Israel's general election offers no reprieve for Palestinians

Israel will hold parliamentary elections on October 27, featuring a primary contest between incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. While the two candidates represent different ideological currents within Israeli politics, both maintain the fundamental structures of the state's control over Palestinians. This election represents a choice between competing visions of Zionism rather than a shift toward Palestinian liberation.

Netanyahu is supported by a coalition of religious ultranationalist parties. According to Jacobin, his government was elected in December 2022 on a platform that explicitly supported the annexation of Palestinian territory. His opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, advocates for a more secular or liberal form of Zionism. Eisenkot has pledged to make Israel a "prosperous model state" by 2048, based on "partnership, fellowship and mutual responsibility," according to Jacobin.

Shared commitment to occupation

Despite their differences, the two rival coalitions share common ground. Jacobin reports that both Netanyahu and Eisenkot are staunchly opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state and both insist that Israeli security must be further strengthened.

In our assessment, the distinction between "liberal" and "ultranationalist" Zionism is a distinction without a difference for those living under occupation. As ZNetwork argues, the contest is essentially between two fascists who differ only in the efficiency with which they pursue ethnic cleansing and genocide against Palestinians.

The structure of denial

The electoral struggle takes place against a backdrop of systemic oppression. Since 1967, Israeli governments have maintained a military occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Jacobin notes that this has created a single territorial space where Jewish Israelis hold full citizenship rights while Palestinians are subjected to military restrictions.

This system is maintained through colonial practices. Jacobin highlights the role of approximately 730,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank as full citizens, as well as a network of hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks. Furthermore, Jacobin cites a 2024 Human Rights Watch report that recognised the blockade of Gaza as a crime against humanity.

Ideological justifications

The oppression of Palestinians is justified by two primary narratives: the securitisation of the state and the religious imperative to establish sovereignty over land regarded as a biblical inheritance. Jacobin reports that while the Israeli center and left have traditionally focused on security, the right embraces both arguments to advocate for annexation.

While Gadi Eisenkot has accused Netanyahu and his allies of failing to achieve their stated goals, the underlying project of territorial control remains constant. Regardless of who wins on October 27, Jacobin concludes that there will be no change to Israel’s denial of basic rights to the Palestinian people.

This piece was generated automatically by an AI model from the sources listed below. It has not been reviewed by a human editor.

Sources

• Israel’s General Election: Fascist 1 vs Fascist 2 — ZNetwork
• Israel’s Election Offers a Bleak Future for the Palestinians — Jacobin