Israel will hold its fourth election in two years on March 23, and it is likely to be yet another referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu and his leadership. The fixation on “anti-Bibi” sentiments, however, prevents voters from identifying and articulating actual policy preferences much of which is currently anchored firmly within Israel’s right-wing camp. Whether or not Netanyahu is able to hold on to the premiership, his coalition of right-wing extremists remains, while the current leading alternatives to Netanyahu are even further to the right than he is in their economic and military positions.
Despite many explanations given over the years, the right wing trajectory in Israel over the last few decades is perhaps best explained by patterns of voting among men. Those who are more likely to support right-wing parties are on average more religious, of lower socioeconomic status, living in the periphery, and are men. Interestingly, most of the parties today are not only to the righ