In brief
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has moved from being a rejected army candidate to a key coalitional player, riding a wave of support from first‑time voters. More than 16% of the 500,000 new voters are leaning toward his Jewish Power party, according to Yedioth Ahronoth polls. The surge is fueled by social‑media dominance, a strong narrative of security and the lasting impact of the 7 October Hamas attacks. Critics argue his extremist rhetoric threatens state cohesion, while supporters see him as a defender of Israel’s sovereignty. The election’s outcome hinges on whether young Israelis translate enthusiasm into turnout.
When Israel’s far‑right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben‑Gvir, reached voting age he was rejected from the army for his extremist views – a stance that has remained unchanged for three decades. Today, the same man sits in the country’s power‑sharing coalition, surrounded by jubilant first‑time voters at campaign stops across Israel.
According to a Yedioth Ahronoth poll, more than 16% of the roughly 500,000 new voters plan to back Ben‑Gvir’s Jewish Power party or his ally, Religious Zionism’s Bezalel Smotrich. In a nation where 80% of new voters say they’ll vote, the margin between coalition and opposition is razor‑thin, making youth turnout potentially decisive.
Ben‑Gvir’s message to teenagers is simple: get to the polls. He leans into slogans of security, citing the 7 October attacks as proof that Israel’s soldiers need strong leadership. A 20‑year‑old supporter told reporters that “slips of the tongue don’t matter” and that the minister’s stance brings “safety” to the armed forces.
The far‑right’s appeal to youth is not only a reaction to recent conflict. Political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin notes that Israeli youth are statistically more right‑wing than older cohorts, having grown up amid repeated wars and little exposure to peace processes. Social media has amplified their rallying cry, and Ben‑Gvir has been the most visible face of his party on TikTok and Instagram, out‑shining senior politicians who were slower to embrace the platforms.
Critics warn that Ben‑Gvir’s positions – annexation of the West Bank, settlement expansion in Gaza, and “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians – threaten the country’s democratic fabric and its standing abroad. Yet in a heterogeneous market in Ramle, his entourage was met with both celebration and resentment; shopkeepers hailed his supporters as a sign of Israel’s strength while others saw the rhetoric as divisive.
As the election approaches, the debate over Israel’s future hangs on whether the new generation will pledge their votes to a party that promises security through hardline policy or to opposition voices that warn against extremism. The outcome will decide if Israel’s foundational conflict will be addressed from the frontlines or the front lines of the political arena.
