First Impression of the Israeli Elections

Anxious Israelis watched as election results took shape on Wednesday, with the highest turnout in over a quarter-century. Exit polls suggested there was no clear winner and that weeks of negotiating could lie ahead.

Key Results

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party came first, receiving 21% of the vote after 66% of ballots had been counted.
• Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party emerged as the main challenger, winning 16.1% of the vote.
• Voter turnout was the highest in more than 25 years, indicating unusually strong public engagement in the election.

What the Results Mean

Although Likud remained the largest single party, it is far from a majority. Israel’s parliament, the 120-seat Knesset, is elected through proportional representation, which means no major party comes close to governing alone.  As a result:

• Netanyahu cannot form a government without coalition partners.
• Eisenkot also lacks sufficient support to govern on his own.
• The election therefore moves into a period of coalition negotiations, which could last weeks.

The Surprise Factor

One of the most significant developments appears to be the strong performance of Arab-led parties, which achieved what reports describe as a historic result. This creates a potential pathway for Netanyahu’s opponents, but there is a major obstacle:

• Many Jewish Israeli parties have traditionally been reluctant to form governing coalitions with Arab-led parties.
• Therefore, even if anti-Netanyahu parties collectively have substantial support, it is unclear whether they can cooperate sufficiently to form a majority government.

From a Christian Perspective

By Dr. Yohanna Katanacho – a Palestinian Israeli Evangelical believer, who serves as the academic dean at Nazareth Evangelical College. He has taught at colleges and seminaries the world over, contributed to dozens of books in Arabic and English, and is Lead Translator for the Spoken Audio Galilean Arabic Bible.

The results of the Israeli elections reflect the decision of the people. These results announce the following:

(1) The people are divided. We are now in the era of Rehoboam and Jeroboam. At the cost of oversimplification, there are two main Jewish groups with opposing positions. There are those who want to get rid of Netanyahu and others who support him. The rift in stances is irreproachable. On the one hand, some seek to promote a militant religious-nationalist mindset; on the other hand, others wish to put forward a liberal right-wing Jewish perspective in the name of democracy.

(2) Militarism holds sway. The leaders are men of war who believe that safety and security come through conflicts and lethal weaponry—as though we are living in the time of Joshua son of Nun, who sought to conquer nations and seize the lands promised by God. Many nations are perceived as enemies and even Amalekites. The voices calling for the continuation of war still echo, threatening Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, and others.

(3) Racism is prominent in the insistence that Arabs cannot be part of the government or part of the solution. We find Aaron and Miriam grumbling against Moses because he married the Cushite woman—as if the Arabs are the Cushite wife with whom Eisenkot, Lieberman, or Bennett might ally. The Arabs in Israel are treated as a source of fear, anxiety, and nuisance, rather than a source of success or blessing for the people. The Jewish “Sons of Thunder” desire fire to come down from heaven and consume them. The power of the Arabs is seen as an evil that must be contained, yet with great hesitation, they might be used merely to get rid of Netanyahu. If only they would agree to become like the Gibeonites of the Old Testament—serving the vision and comfort of the Jews without caring for the safety of their own people, their history, or the dream of a shared, equal life.

(4) International relations are marginalized. Israel’s reputation has been corrupted through its leaders, its positions, and its human rights violations. The media and leaders ignore this reality like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand, becoming like Balaam, who chose the path of cursing for the sake of profit.

In any case, the future does not seem likely to change much. The coming years will also be years filled with racism, hatred, militarism, and war. As it appears, Netanyahu will remain part of the leadership, whether at the top or in other positions. And perhaps we might ask: What is the church’s stance today regarding all of this?

First, we must hold fast to the vision of Christ the King. The Kingdom of Christ broke through the racism that once dominated Peter’s life. Peter did not wish to visit Cornelius, but God showed him another path. God’s kingdom strives for complete equality among all its citizens, serving as the ultimate model for building earthly kingdoms. That is why we pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Second, as a church, we must promote peace and be peacemakers rather than spreading militarism and encouraging wars. It is the duty of the church to support peace by challenging corruption and supporting just international law and the global institutions that foster justice and peace. It is also the duty of the church to examine its own stances regarding Israel; instead of focusing on eschatological wars, it is far better to spread the peace of Christ.

Third, in light of racism, political tribalism, and the spread of violence in Israel, let us challenge this darkness by spreading love and justice for both Palestinians and Israelis. A culture of love must be integrated into educational curricula, and extremism in Israel must be confronted with knowledge, learning, the building of healthy relationships, and Christian love that offers a new vision for human relations. This vision includes bringing an end to the catastrophe suffered by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, stopping the crime endured by Palestinians inside Israel, and striving as a church to empower followers of Christ to be a beacon of hope and promise for the peoples of the region.

We will soon commemorate the years 2030 and 2033—marking two thousand years since the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Will we celebrate by supporting both the Palestinian and Jewish church, and by advancing peace and justice? Will we challenge the evil spread by politicians who have oppressed the innocent and the needy? Or will we remain silent? In light of the above, we encourage you to partner with Nazareth Evangelical College in training future leaders and ministers who can serve the church and the community. Feel free to receive our newsletter by signing up on our webpage at:

https://www.nazcol.org/receive-newsletter/.