This October 27 Israeli election is being billed as a competition between the change bloc and the Netanyahu coalition bloc.
This is the wrong frame for the vote. The fundamental choice is between the tikkun camp – the parties that are committed to repair Israeli society in the aftermath of October 7 – and parties that want to go on with business as usual.
I went to the shiva of Ben Zussman, who died in the Israel-Hamas War. His letter before entering battle drew a lot of attention because he expressed his sense of “the privilege to fulfill my dream and my destiny” in fighting for and defending Israel – even if he lost his life in the process.
His parents said the way to honor his bravery and devotion (and that of the other fallen soldiers) is to make a better Israel.
That is the central issue in this election.
Over 1,200 people died on October 7; 970 soldiers lost their lives in post-October 7 fighting to ensure that Hamas could not inflict such a massacre again. At the cost of these soldiers’ lives (and the wounded), the IDF neutralized the “ring of fire” (Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran) threatening Israel.
The calling of the next government is to improve Israel and thus honor the soldiers’ sacrifice.
This is the tikkun bloc’s purpose.
Bringing haredim into the IDF
If elected, it will make Israel a fairer society by ending the haredim’s draft exemption so that every population group of Israel carries an equal share of the burden of defense. Every sector of the Israeli population – this includes the haredi and Arab population as well – will serve in the IDF or in national service.
The unjust phenomenon of reservists serving hundreds of days a year – disrupting their families and professional lives, while tens of thousands are exempt from any service – will be ended.
Gadi Eisenkot has promised legislation to exempt 3% (i.e., the haredi top Torah scholars) to protect high-level Torah study – just as top athletes and musicians are exempted – but everyone else must serve in the IDF or do National Service.
At a time when the IDF reported that it might collapse without more soldiers, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on serving his haredi coalition partners by passing a draft exemption bill. This showed the bankruptcy and irresponsibility of a business-as-usual government.
If the tikkun bloc wins, postelection Israel will be a more just society.
Investment in infrastructure and education in the Arab sector will be brought up to the levels of Jewish cities and communities. This would continue a process toward equalization that started in 1955. It was an investment that was promised but not fulfilled by the present government due to its extremists.
Similarly, a comprehensive plan will be developed and a cooperative strategy established with Arab community leaders to fight organized crime and to stem the wave of murders in the Arab sector.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the current stand-pat government have stood idly by the shedding of Arab blood.
If the tikkun bloc wins, postelection Israel will be more democratic. The assault on the judiciary will be stopped. There is room for greater diversity in judicial appointments, but the current government’s attempt to politicize the judges’ selection process will be ended. Judicial review protects minority rights and provides checks and balances that protect democracy.
Postelection Israel will be more educated. In 2025, Israel recorded one of the OECD’s steepest declines in reading (38 points), math (25), and science (27), leaving the country below average in all three areas. Nearly three out of 10 Israeli students lack basic proficiency in all these areas.
Naftali Bennett of B’Yachad will personally take charge of the Education Ministry, and the new government will supply the funds needed to upgrade the educational system. This includes enforcing the requirement – currently being flouted – to teach English, math, and science in the haredi school system.
Postelection Israel will be more firmly under the rule of law. The present wave of extremist settler violence against Palestinians is criminal and a form of terrorism.
The criminals have not been checked and held accountable because of pressure from Ben-Gvir on the police and from Minister Bezalel Smotrich on the IDF.
This violence undermines the laws of Israel and has greatly damaged Israel’s reputation worldwide. The tikkun government will restore law and order in the West Bank and insist that law-abiding Palestinians have the security and safety they are entitled to.
Post-election Israel will be more informed. A state commission of inquiry will be appointed to objectively and comprehensively gather all the information on October 7. Establishing the facts and the failures will enable us to prevent a repetition and to hold those leaders responsible for the disaster accountable.
The present stand-pat government has blocked any national investigation commission because it wants to escape being held responsible.
The tikkun bloc government will improve Israel’s standing in the world. This coalition government has just about undermined the alliance with America. Netanyahu did get US President Donald Trump to crack down on Iran’s nuclear production program, but this very closeness has evoked alienation from Democrats and independents. Netanyahu basically wrote off the Democratic Party.
Netanyahu is now toxic among Democrats and independents. If he is reelected, this may well break the alliance politically.
This tikkun government will reach out strongly to these groups. Eisenkot will reach out to Trump. While he does not have a close connection to the president, his sincere appreciation of America’s help and his genuine respect for Trump will enable a new connection while the new government rebuilds the bipartisan alliance, which was the firmest foundation for the Israel-American alliance.
The silent majority of the Israeli public must step up and choose tikkun – the repair of society to make it better – and ensure that our heroic soldiers will not have died in vain.
The writer is a senior scholar in residence at the Hadar Institute. The views in this column are his and not of the affiliated institution.