The far right in Israel finds fertile ground among new voters

When Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right Minister of National Security, reached voting age, he was rejected from joining the Israeli army because of his too extreme political views.

His views haven't changed much over the past 30 years, but Israel has. After being ostracized by the political establishment, he is today within the narrow circle of ministers close to the center of power.

While campaigning ahead of Israel's general elections next week, Ben Gvir is often seen surrounded by a group of enthusiastic young supporters waving huge party flags above the heads of his many bodyguards.

In the covered market in Ramla, a mixed city inhabited by Jewish and Arab Israelis, he told us that he was calling on young voters to go to the polls. He said: “We see the support, we see the love, and we want to win!”

More than half a million voters, participating in voting for the first time, will cast their ballots in these elections, which many Israelis see as crucial to Israel's future security and identity. Opinion polls indicate that the competition will be tight, and these young voters may play a decisive role in determining the outcome.

According to a poll conducted for the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, more than 16 percent of them plan to support far-right parties, whether the “Jewish Power” party or the “Religious Zionism” party. Another poll conducted for the Israeli Channel 12 showed that about three-quarters of these young people classify themselves as part of the “right” or “center-right” movement.

“Itamar Ben Gvir gives me a feeling of security,” says Mordechai, 20 years old. Nadav, 18, adds: “Itamar will provide us with safety, and when we join the army, there will be someone to support us and stand by us.”

Meir Schreiber, 23 years old, believes that the attacks led by Hamas on October 7, 2023 were the reason he was convinced that Ben Gvir was the right choice. “Young people realize that peace is not something we can achieve,” he said.

Ben Gvir is considered a divisive candidate; His positions include annexing the West Bank, establishing settlements in Gaza, and pushing for "voluntary immigration" of Palestinians. Several Western countries imposed sanctions on him because of his incitement against the Palestinians.

Political analyst Dalia Sheindlin believes that Jewish youth in Israel lean more to the right than the general average, noting that they grew up in the shadow of a series of wars and consider extremist proposals legitimate matters for discussion.

In light of a close election race, opposition parties are seeking to attract young people through social media, as Ben Gvir realized the power of these platforms early, while competitors such as Naftali Bennett began to adopt similar strategies to reach this generation.