Full Breakdown
Ben-Gvir’s Far-Right Surge Among Israel’s First-Time Voters
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister, was once barred from military service for extremist views. Over three decades later he holds a senior cabinet post in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. His platform includes annexation of the West Bank, settlement expansion in Gaza, and a “voluntary emigration” policy for Palestinians—positions that have drawn sanctions from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway.
Young Voter Momentum (Core Event)
Israel’s parliamentary election is scheduled for October 27. More than half a million citizens will vote for the first time, a cohort that analysts say could tip a tightly contested race. Polls for *Yedioth Ahronoth* indicate that over 16 % of these newcomers intend to back far-right parties, chiefly Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power or Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism list. A Channel 12 survey finds that almost three-quarters of first-time voters identify as “right or centre-right.”
Data & Statistics
- First-time voters: > 500,000
- Planned far-right support: > 16 % of first-timers
- Jewish Power seat forecast: 8 + seats if running alone
- Age profile: Agam Labs poll shows Jewish Power supporters are younger than the average Israeli voter; up to one-third will be first-time voters
- Social-media reach: Ben-Gvir’s TikTok and Instagram accounts collectively garner millions of views, outpacing rival politicians
Official Statements & Responses
Ben-Gvir frames his campaign as a call for “Jewish pride” and “security for the nation.”
Criticism & Opposition
Local shopkeepers in Ramle expressed unease, with one vendor saying Ben-Gvir “sows discord” and exploits “young uneducated people.” Analyst Dahlia Scheindlin noted that the rightward shift among 18- to 22-year-olds reflects a generation raised amid repeated wars, leading many to view annexation and settlement expansion as “legitimate debate topics.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think he's trying to show that we're a strong country. For many years, we couldn't show we're strong in our beliefs. We couldn't express our ideology.” — Meir Schreiber, 23-year-old
- “I used to think he was a bit crazy, but then I actually looked at what he was saying, and it all made sense,” — Gavriel Marmon, 18-year-old student
- “It's almost like President Trump's peace through strength,” — Odelia Kedmi, 41-year-old voter
- “We have returned home after two thousand years of exile and we need to be proud,” — Itamar Ben-Gvir
- “The liberal politicians didn't believe in TikTok, didn't believe in Instagram, and he took advantage of that arena.” — Yonatan Shalev, 24-year-old opposition candidate
What’s Next
The October 27 election will be the first national poll since the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks that sparked the Gaza war. Turnout among first-time electors and their preference for far-right parties will be decisive in determining whether Netanyahu’s coalition retains power or an opposition bloc led by former general Gadi Eiskot forms the next government.