The Real Divide in Israeli Politics: Territory, Identity, and Sovereignty

How Political Labels Are Misleading

In much of the Western world, the terms "left" and "right" are understood through the lens of economic policy—taxation, welfare, labor, and social issues. But in Israel, those labels tell a different story. For decades now, Israeli politics has revolved around a far more singular set of questions: the Palestinians, territory, security, and the nature of Jewish sovereignty.

This shift in focus isn't just semantic—it reflects a deep reordering of how political identities are formed and expressed. When I first started covering Israeli politics, I expected the traditional ideological divide to be the main axis of debate. But over time, it became clear that what we call the "left" and "right" in Israel are defined more by their views on Palestinian statehood and occupation than by economic or social policies.

A Historical Shift in Political Identity

Historically, the left in Israel was associated with Labor Zionism. It was rooted in collective ideals like the Histadrut, kibbutz movements, and a state-led approach to development. These groups emphasized economic equality and social welfare as core tenets of the Jewish state.

"The right, by contrast, emerged from Revisionist Zionism—more nationalist in tone and less inclined to compromise on land claims. Over time, it moved toward a market-friendly stance, though always underpinned by strong national identity."

This division wasn't entirely erased, but it lost its defining power after 1967. That year marked a turning point when Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip. From then on, the Israeli political landscape became increasingly preoccupied with how to manage those territories and their populations.

The Oslo Years and the Left's Erosion

The Oslo Accords of the 1990s brought even more clarity to this evolving dynamic. For many on the left, peace negotiations were a path toward stability and democracy—yet also a risk of territorial loss. But the Second Intifada (2000–2005) changed everything. The violence of that period was interpreted by many Jews as proof that compromise wasn't working.

Then came the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, which only deepened doubts about negotiating peace. And when Hamas took control and launched attacks in 2007, it further hardened opinions across the board. The left was seen not just as weak on security, but perhaps even naive in its understanding of Palestinian motivations.

October 7: Accelerating a Shift Already Underway

The October 7, 2023 attacks did not create the current alignment of political thought—but they certainly accelerated it. What defines being "right-wing" today is no longer primarily economic policy but an unshakable commitment to Jewish sovereignty and security above all else.

• Support for Israeli settlements in the West Bank has become a non-negotiable stance.
• Some within the right see these settlements not merely as temporary bargaining chips, but as assets in securing the land and fulfilling religious prophecy.
• There is an increasing emphasis on the idea that Israel must remain both Jewish and democratic—without compromise on either front.

What the Right Is Really About

The right in Israel is not a monolithic bloc, but it shares common ground on key principles. The main vehicles of this ideology are Likud and its allies like Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit.

Likud, while often described as economically market-oriented, is actually more unified around national sovereignty, strong security policies, and a deep sense of Jewish identity than around economic philosophy. That means that even when right-wing parties offer subsidies or public housing, it's typically in service of broader political goals rather than pure free-market ideals.

More importantly, the current right has shown a willingness to challenge judicial independence and state institutions when they perceive them as standing in the way of elected government. This is particularly evident in debates over judicial reform that gained momentum before October 7 and have resurfaced since.

The Center: Where Things Have Become Murky

The political center has lost its coherence. Parties like Yesh Atid or the Zionist Union, once considered moderate voices, now struggle to find their footing in a world where the center-left no longer commands public trust on matters of security and identity.

Benny Gantz and others who advocate for military operations while defending democratic institutions represent the last remnants of a political middle ground. Their influence is waning, and their positions are often seen as too cautious by right-wingers and too compromising by leftists.

The Social Left and the Palestinian Left

There is still a social and economic left in Israel that pushes for public services, housing rights, and more equitable distribution of resources. But this group is often marginalized in favor of nationalistic rhetoric that frames any policy as either strengthening Jewish identity or weakening it.

The Palestinian left—a movement centered on equality between Jewish and Arab citizens, a right to self-determination, and an end to the occupation—is distinct from the Jewish left but equally marginalized. These groups often struggle to find a voice within Israel's dominant political discourse because they are perceived as compromising national security.

Haredi Parties: A Political Puzzle

Shas and United Torah Judaism present another layer of complexity. While they're socially conservative and rooted in religious tradition, their economic positions don't neatly fit into Western categories of right or left. Their focus is on preserving religious autonomy, military exemptions, and public funding for religious institutions.

In recent years, they've aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government—not because of shared ideological ground but due to budgetary needs and mutual interests in maintaining their influence over education and religious life. That alignment places them politically alongside the right, yet they're not part of the nationalist bloc that defines the traditional Israeli right.

Arab-Israeli Parties: Outside the Norm

Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel—like Hadash, Ra'am, and Balad—are even further removed from the mainstream Zionist political spectrum. They advocate for a civic state, civil rights, and Palestinian national identity, challenging the notion that Israel must be defined solely through its Jewish character.

"To call all these parties 'left' because they oppose occupation or support Palestinian rights is misleading," I observed while reporting on these dynamics. "They're a separate political field entirely."

Political Future: A Rightward Shift

The upcoming election on October 27 will likely be described as a battle between left and right—but that description is incomplete. The real debate now centers not on opposing ideologies but on competing visions of how far the shift toward the right should go.

Disagreements over:

1. Whether military control of Palestinian territories should be temporary or permanent
2. The role of settlements in national identity versus strategy
3. The balance between elected government and judicial restraint
4. How to treat Palestinians—primarily as a security challenge or as a political community with rights

These questions are shaping the political landscape even before the elections begin. And while there is still some debate, much of the foundational shift has already taken place. The real political battle now is within the right itself—over just how far to take these changes.

Conclusion: The Changing Nature of Israeli Politics

In short, what we once thought of as the Israeli left and right is no longer a straightforward ideological spectrum. Today's political divisions reflect a more complex interplay of identity, security, and territorial control. And this evolution has profound implications for how Israel governs itself—and how it might look in the future.