In the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the West Bank, a faded campaign poster of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich greets visitors at the security gate. The confident smile of the far-right leader contrasts sharply with the worried expressions of residents following Tuesday's legislative election results. Many settlers had anticipated a firmly right-wing government but are now concerned by the presence of 19 Arab MPs in the Knesset. Smadar, a resident who requested anonymity, expressed her fear, stating that none of the potential outcomes seem positive given the new political landscape.
The elections resulted in a hung parliament, as neither Netanyahu's bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot's opposition coalition secured the necessary 61 seats to form a government. The two ministers most supportive of settlements, Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, won a combined 13 seats, significantly fewer than the 19 seats held by Arab lists representing Palestinian citizens of Israel. This disparity has fueled claims among some residents that the election was stolen. Avid and Sara Tawil, an Orthodox Jewish couple living in Efrat for 24 years, cited videos they believe show Arabs violently attacking voters. They fear Eisenkot might form a government with Arab parties or that new elections will be called to create a larger right-wing coalition excluding them.
Ofer, a friend of the Tawils, suggested another possibility: a national unity government that excludes Arab parties, which he considers the least bad option. Life in Efrat resembles a small town with supermarkets, schools, and hospitals, yet it is also characterized by security fences, cameras, and many residents carrying revolvers. Located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the settlement has grown since the 1980s to house approximately 14,000 people. Inbal Silverman, a mother of three born in Efrat, warned that if Arab parties join the government and Smotrich and Ben Gvir leave, no one will protect the settlers or allow construction to continue in Judea and Samaria. She emphasized the feeling of living surrounded by enemies who want their death.
Smotrich, who lives in a nearby settlement and openly promotes expansion considered illegal under international law, was the most voted candidate in Efrat, with his Religious Zionism party receiving nearly 50% of the ballots. Silverman noted that residents feel safer since he entered the government. An armed man from a nearby fruit stand joined the conversation, stating that while he feels safe, carrying a weapon provides additional security against those who want them dead or displaced. He claimed that civilians with weapons have thwarted most terrorist attacks in recent years.
Following the results, Ben Gvir and Smotrich have maintained a low profile, supporting Likud's allegations of foreign funding for Ra'am, one of the Arab parties. Ben Gvir stated on social media that those not loyal to the State of Israel should be denied the right to vote. Dovi Shefler, the local council president, views the situation from his office overlooking new construction projects and roads connecting settlements to Jerusalem. He lamented changes in nearby Bethlehem, claiming it has become fully Islamized with increased Hamas presence. A quote from the Book of Ruth on his wall serves as a motto for the community: "May you prosper in Efrata."
Organizations opposing the occupation report that the current far-right government has accelerated settlement expansion, creating dozens of new settlements and forcibly displacing over 100 Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Shefler expressed concern that if Eisenkot becomes prime minister, he will block these projects. He described the situation as a war for land, arguing that after the October 7, 2023 attacks, it is crucial to occupy free lands to prevent Arabs from controlling them and using them as bases for attacks.
While residents claim to foster coexistence with Palestinian neighbors, their comments suggest unequal relationships. Silverman admitted that after the 2023 attacks, they realized their dependence on Arab workers for cleaning and service jobs, noting a desire to replace them with Chinese or Indian workers whom she described as more civilized and less hostile. Her husband, Bnaya, a reservist who has served 210 days in Lebanon and Syria over the last three years, criticized global perceptions of Israelis as child killers. He recounted a mission where they spared a terrorist eating with his family to avoid a massacre, questioning whether Hamas shows similar consideration toward Israelis.
Sources: El País Internacional.