While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot present sharply different personalities and visions for the future to Israeli voters, their approaches to national security appear substantially similar to international observers. Both leading contenders maintain opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, indicating that the country's core foreign policy direction is unlikely to shift significantly following the election.
Analysts warn that if neither candidate can immediately form a government, Netanyahu could remain as caretaker prime minister for weeks or months. During this period of instability, there are growing concerns regarding a potential rise in settler violence within the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Furthermore, experts suggest Netanyahu might urge President Trump to resume bombing campaigns against Iran during this interim phase.
Even if Gadi Eisenkot emerges as the new prime minister, Israel's overall foreign policy is not expected to undergo major changes. While the diplomatic tone may become slightly more accommodating on the margins, few anticipate a move toward embracing a two-state solution for an independent Palestine. Additionally, active conflicts with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Islamic Republic of Iran are expected to continue.
Consequently, Israel is projected to face increasing international isolation regardless of who leads the government. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a former American diplomat now at the Atlantic Council, noted that the election results signal to the world that the current approach to the region is not merely a problem associated with Netanyahu. Instead, she stated that this stance represents the broader reality of Israel today, which has already prompted significant international backlash.
Sources: The New York Times World.