In the midst of conflict, Israel finally returns to the polls. After two delays, municipal elections were held on Tuesday, delayed from the planned October 31. Just 24 days after Hamas’s October 7 assault reshaped the country, the state with thousands of citizens deployed in Gaza faced a new moment to weigh its leadership. The local votes, whose results will be known in five days due to high absentee ballots, are a gauge of public sentiment about national leadership before and after the war’s start. Citizens’ ballots send a message to their political representatives.
Although election day is a holiday, rain across much of Israel affected turnout. By 5 p.m. local time, one hour later than in Spain, only 31.2 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots, a sharp drop from 40 percent in 2018. In some areas, the low participation could boost ultra-Orthodox parties, which tend to vote in large numbers, contrasting with the broader population. Turnout was already expected to be subdued as the public grapples with the Gaza war and thousands have fled their homes. In 11 border municipalities with Gaza and Lebanon, where no residents remain after months of conflict, voting has been postponed to November 19.
Judicial reform
Several cities command state-level attention for their significance. Jerusalem, for example, anticipates renewing the mandate of conservative Moshe Leon, aligned with Likud. Yet, as the liberal and traditional segments of Jerusalem’s electorate stay focused on the war, ultra-Orthodox groups are expected to gain more than half of the city council for the first time. In Tel Aviv, the leading contender is the current mayor for 25 years, the Labor candidate Ron Huldai. The sole rival is Orna Barbivai, the highest-ranking woman in the Israeli military, a former economy minister and former deputy in the centrist-left Yesh Atid party. Barbivai announced her candidacy in the summer, spurred by protests over judicial reform that also drew support from Huldai.
Before the war, many local groups that emerged from mass demonstrations viewed these elections as a second platform, after the streets, to push for change. Nine months of organizing and weekly actions built momentum for liberal community gains in local elections. But on October 7, Hamas launched its land, sea, and air assault, completely shifting priorities for Israelis. Nationally, the local elections were described as a barometer of political winds. The mood at the local level now reflects the national crisis and the war’s impact on daily life.
Absence of Netanyahu
A notable feature of these elections is the rift within the ultra-Orthodox community. Beyond the historic divide among the traditional Hasidic, Litvak, and Mizrahi streams, new splits have emerged among Hasidic factions backing different rival rabbis. The ballots also include a large number of absentee votes. Since February, Israelis serving in the military or reserve units have been voting, even from within Gaza’s corridors of control.
Equally striking is the absence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Unlike past campaigns, Netanyahu did not attend local rallies or engage with voters, and few candidates attempted to highlight ties to him. Analysts say it is unlikely anyone wants to appear tied to the deeply unpopular prime minister. With centralized political power at the national level, many citizens during wartime view local authorities as less influential. In Israel, municipalities manage schools, health services, local economies, transportation, infrastructure, and culture. For many, the Hamas attack on October 7 pushed these issues far down the list of political priorities.