Israel’s upcoming October 27 legislative election features a record influx of first-time voters, with more than half a million new names added to the electoral rolls since 2022. Among this demographic, which spans the 18 to 22 age range, there is a clear trend: approximately 80 percent intend to cast their ballots, and they are increasingly drawn to conservative and nationalist platforms. The first Israeli elections in four years have brought with them a record number of first-time voters – most of whom are keen to make their voices count. Which has already been shifting to the right for years, that’s significantly higher than the rest of the Israeli population.
While youth movements in many parts of the world have gravitated toward the left, young Jewish Israelis are moving in the opposite direction.
Data from a recent Israel Democracy Institute survey indicates that most young Jewish citizens believe the electoral process is a vital tool for shaping the nation’s trajectory.
This cohort is now frequently referred to as ‘Generation Right,’ a label that underscores their distinct political shift, though the term does not encompass the country’s Palestinian citizens.
The current electoral environment, marked by significant polarization following the October 7, 2023, attacks, poses a critical test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s continued leadership. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s long-standing strategy of aligning with far-right figures to maintain his coalition has mainstreamed extremist ideologies, specifically empowering ministers such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Critics of the longest-serving PM in Israel’s history accuse him of supporting “far-right” politicians to stay in power.
Bezalel Smotrich, who holds a portfolio within the defence ministry, has previously advocated for a future where Israel remains the sole site of self-determination, suggesting that Palestinians should either emigrate, live without political rights, or face designation as terrorists. His role has allowed him to actively expand the footprint of illegal settlements throughout the occupied West Bank. In 2017, Smotrich laid out his position for the future of Israel where the Israelis are the only ones who will have self-determination, whereas Palestinians will have to emigrate, stay without political representation, or be treated as “terrorists” if they refuse either of the two options. In 2022 he secured a portfolio in the defence ministry where he facilitates land grabs and empowers the illegal settlement enterprise in the occupied West Bank. Indeed, this incitement and view of Palestinians has become more prevalent.
This rightward tilt is increasingly reflected in the rhetoric of young activists. In southern Israel, supporters have been documented openly calling for new settlements on Palestinian territory. For many in this demographic, figures like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have become effective communicators of their worldview. Despite his past convictions related to supporting terrorist organizations, Ben-Gvir has successfully cultivated a massive following among young voters.
Ben-Gvir’s political branding is heavily influenced by his performance on social media and digital platforms. By regularly filming himself visiting detention centers and confronting Palestinian prisoners, he leverages viral content to bypass traditional media, directly engaging a base that includes—but extends well beyond—the militant ‘Hilltop Youth’ factions, some of whom have faced sanctions from the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The impact of this atmosphere on civil discourse has been intense. Satirist Lior Schleien, who has spent time interviewing students ahead of their military service, recently encountered instances of extreme prejudice, including a student who openly expressed desires for violence against Arabs in Israel and admitted to long-held racist views. While Schleien eventually pulled the footage following backlash, the interaction highlighted the raw intensity of current political sentiments among the youth. Schleien, a left-wing activist, has been visiting schools and speaking with young people often before their army service. Schleien asks whether October 7 changed his views. “I’ve always been racist,” the young man answers, adding that Arabs shouldn’t be allowed to live in the state of Israel. In another town hall meeting, Schleien addresses the question of whether there are innocent people in Gaza. When asked if Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, Schleien denies it, only for a female student to ask, “Do you think it should be done?”. But the student assures him that she is asking a serious question, schleien looks unimpressed. According to she, The scars of October 7 instilled fear among people, making it hard for them to believe peace could ever be achievable.
Within the more liberal segments of society, there is a palpable sense of disillusionment. Younger supporters of the left-leaning Democrats party in Tel Aviv suggest that the hope for peace has largely evaporated, largely due to the collective trauma and fear generated by the events of October 7. At a recent meeting of young supporters of the left-leaning Democrats party in Tel Aviv, 18-year-old Gili told the AFP news agency that she believed Israeli society had abandoned the idea of peace. Many say Israeli society has been heading this way for years, while the October 7 attack may have accelerated the country’s push to the right and far-right.
The influence of these ideologies is further amplified by the digital landscape. According to the Israel Democracy Institute, platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram serve as the primary conduits for political information, embedding partisan content into the daily feeds of young users rather than relying on active engagement or research.
Recent polling conducted for Channel 12 reinforces this trend, showing that roughly 75 percent of Jewish first-time voters identify as either right or centre-right. This figure stands as a notable departure from the broader Israeli public, signaling that the national shift toward nationalist politics is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
