When Racism Reigns – Israeli Democracy?

The Likud bloc lost to the bloc for change by less than 600,000 votes (from over 5,300,000) emerging from elections with 27 Knesset seats. The bloc won 53 seats, too far from 61 of 120 to form a minority government.

Yashar, led by Eisenkot followed Likud with 21 seats in the Knesset-elect. His bloc for change (including Yachad led by Bennett, Yisrael Beiteinu led by Liberman, and Democrats led by Golan) won 48 seats. The two Arab parties, Ra’am (8) and the Joint List (11), add up to 67 seats in the bloc for change. Not that simple in a racist society.

Multiple analyses focus on prospects: Netanyahu and Eisenkot forming a unity government, or coalitions requiring parties break pre-election promises and partner with Arab parties or non-Zionist Haredi parties.

I hope for a quickly formed coalition, excluding Bibi, including Arabs. In deference to a healthy economy, demographics and democracy, feeling broken, as racism leads:

1. Mainstream Israeli media graphically portray two blocs: 53 on the right, 48 on the left that is not left. A gray area between them shows 19 Arab seats. A Jewish-Arab bloc of 67 not presented.

Arab parties want change! Zionist parties in the bloc don’t want them, in the name of their constituents. Media complicitly fail to allude to radical democratic ideas of minority inclusion. Excuse my cynicism.

In pre-election rhetoric, Zionist parties in the bloc promised, with qualifications, not to include Arab parties in a coalition.

2. The number of votes for Bibi – a public endorsement of racism. Much more to say, all said before.
3. With a new acquaintance, I mention a long feeling of betrayal by Zionism. Zionist not defining my identity – though caring more deeply about the future of Israel than words can express. This frames now feeling betrayed by the Jewish people. Imprecise as I consider individuals, not the whole. So many votes for Bibi? Raised on a core of presumed shared Jewish values. Betrayed.

My acquaintance politely withholds shock evident in his raised eyebrow hearing I’m not a Zionist, while explaining it’s an evolving ideology. He’s close to my age, from a similar background. Responding, I utter the loaded G-word.

Lest I be misunderstood, nothing is more painful to me than considering Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza. Am I a masochist? Listening to familiar arguments from him, I propose refutations. He checks facts. He’s a lawyer. He was in the army. Did I say patronizing?

Him: Only Ben Gvir’s statements brought the ICJ to accuse Israel of genocide. He knows military protocol from firsthand experience. Despite some bad apples, Israeli soldiers on the whole refrain from unnecessary killing.

Me: It’s not always the soldier in the field deciding. He adds, “It’s a war after all.” Numbers. Legal definitions.

Not presuming to know it all. Wishing to be convinced. But I mention academics, in Israel and abroad, convincingly arguing the contrary. He reiterates “facts,” disqualifying others’ “facts” as dictated by universities funded by Qatar. Dismissal of all academic integrity?

Though not supporting Bibi, he undermines Qatari influence in the Prime Minister’s Office?

A reverberating thought as I recall Israeli offenses, refuted by my acquaintance with “Israel didn’t ask for war.” We know Bibi enabled Hamas for years.

Asking myself why I pursue such discussions. Respecting Israeli soldiers’ integrity, protecting me, following orders meant to protect human rights, examples indicating otherwise notwithstanding.

Recalling ethnic cleansing actions in the West Bank not quelched by the government.

Such discussions amplify Zionist attempts to cling to feeble crumbs of who they want to believe we are. I want them to recognize we can’t escape recognizing the number of votes Bibi received.

4. Israeli governments allow house demolitions in unrecognized Arab-Bedouin villages in Israel, rather than finding suitable solutions to their residential status as citizens.
5. Spare me the claim that Israel is the democracy where Palestinian citizens vote while the Palestinian Authority cancels and postpones elections in the West Bank.

If Palestinians’ votes are a gray area, this democracy is a farce.

Harriet Gimpel

October 31, 2026