For Heaven’s Sake — "Election Currents"

Host: Shalom Hartman Institute (Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi)
Date: February 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi dissect the complex political climate surrounding the upcoming Israeli elections, highlighting the major undercurrents shaping electoral discourse. Amid lingering war and monumental uncertainty, they focus on three emerging trends: the polarization around the inclusion/exclusion of ultra-Orthodox and Arab Israelis in coalitions, the coalescence of Arab parties around pressing local issues, and the looming electoral stalemate. The conversation emphasizes how these dynamics reflect deeper questions about Israeli identity, belonging, and the prospects for societal integration or division.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Defining the "Outsider": Ultra-Orthodox vs. Arab Israelis

• Polarization of Political Discourse:
  • Israeli elections are increasingly framed around which community—ultra-Orthodox or Arab Israelis—is less legitimate as a coalition partner.
  • Both groups have tenuous relationships with the Israeli mainstream and the traditional balance of Jewish and democratic statehood.
• Right vs. Opposition Narratives:
  • Right/Likud (Netanyahu’s camp): Framing opposition as likely to sit with Arab parties, especially Mansour Abbas' Ra'am, painting them as security risks despite Ra'am's moderation.
  • Opposition: Prioritizing a reset of the state-ultra-Orthodox relationship, vowing to curb what they see as excessive subsidies and to push for Haredi societal integration.
• Philosophical Framing:
  • The conversation moves from past personality-focused (Bibi vs. Not Bibi) to deep-seated ideological questions about Jewish and democratic visions for Israel.
  • Collective Identity Through Opposition: Communities often strengthen identity by defining outsiders, though this carries moral risks.
• Nuanced Distinction:
  • Exclusion of Haredim is framed as a path toward future inclusion via integration, while exclusion of Arab parties is absolute.

Notable Quotes:

• Yossi Klein Halevi [05:05]:
  “The ultra Orthodox want more Jewish, less democratic. And the Arabs want less Jewish and more democratic.”
• Daniel Goodman [08:21]:
  “Most communities...build a coherent collective identity by finding that group. Who are your outsiders.”

2. Arab Political Unity and Prioritizing Domestic Security

• Arab Parties Unite:
  • Running under a single banner to consolidate votes, which polls suggest could significantly increase their representation.
• Shift to Local Agendas:
  • Widespread violence and lawlessness in Arab communities has overtaken Palestinian national issues as the number one concern.
  • Security, employment, and health trump nationalist rhetoric, driving voter priorities and party platforms.
• Historic Jewish-Arab Demonstration:
  • Arab leaders' call for a large protest in Tel Aviv focusing on violence in Arab society resulted in an unprecedented show of Jewish-Arab solidarity, with thousands of mainstream Jews joining and Israeli, not Palestinian, flags flying.
• Pragmatic Partnership:
  • Arab politicians, led by Mansour Abbas, shift rhetoric and strategy to seek inclusion within the Israeli mainstream, emphasizing shared interests over identity politics.

Notable Quotes:

• Daniel Goodman [14:36]: “That priority is not Palestinian state. That priority fits every single poll ... the answer is always personal security and safety.”
• Yossi Klein Halevi [19:21]: “This was really an historic event. It was the largest joint Jewish Arab demonstration in memory—maybe in the history of the state.”
• Daniel Goodman [23:34]: “I did it because I’m a Zionist ... Zionism is about building a sovereign state ... sovereignty is also a sovereign state of mind.”

3. Entrenched Stalemate and Uncertain Future

• Paralysis in the Electoral Map:
  • Neither the right-wing coalition nor the opposition is able to command a majority, mirroring the persistent political deadlock of recent years.
  • With Haredi and Arab parties carving out separate, uncompromising positions, the likelihood of a governing majority is slim.
• Potential Pathways Forward:
  • Minority government supported externally by Arab parties for select policy changes (e.g., crime reduction in Arab society, commission on October 7), though not a stable long-term solution.
  • Ongoing deadlock may force repeated elections or push for leadership changes within Likud if Netanyahu continues to fail to form a government.
• Denial and Anxiety:
  • Despite the high stakes, there’s a collective sense of denial about the unsolvable nature of the situation and a lack of concrete plans for moving beyond stalemate.
• Focus on Broad Consensus Issues:
  • Even an interim government could prioritize urgent, widely-supported reforms, particularly regarding Haredi draft and fighting organized crime.

Notable Quotes:

• Daniel Goodman [27:00]: “Neither side, unless something changes, is going to be able to put together the next coalition... we’re really going back five years to that stalemate.”
• Yossi Klein Halevi [30:38]: “Bennett has a Talmudic loophole, which is... I promise not to form a government with an Arab party, but Mansoor Abbas can support my government from outside.”
• Daniel Goodman [32:44]: “There’s a stalemate, but that stalemate doesn’t necessarily mean just continued elections. There’ll be a shift in government in the midst of that.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the “Chametz” Legal Fiction:
  Yossi Klein Halevi [02:20-02:55]:
  Banters about Jews possibly finding a “legal fiction” (like selling chametz on Passover) to resolve draft exemption deadlock.
• On Jews and Arabs Demonstrating Together:
  Yossi Klein Halevi [20:25]:
  “Always their favorite Jews, the Jews who are also advocating for a binational state. All 15 of them.”
• On Hartman Institute’s Stance:
  Daniel Goodman [23:34]:
  “I did it because I’m a Zionist ... a real country, we citizens care for each other.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:10–05:05] — Framing the central question: Inclusion/exclusion of Haredim and Arabs
• [08:03–10:30] — From personality to ideology: “Othering” as identity construction
• [13:08–14:36] — Mansour Abbas, Arab inclusion, and the opposition’s priorities
• [14:36–19:21] — Arab parties unite, focus on local crime, and the Tel Aviv demonstration
• [19:21–22:09] — New Jewish-Arab solidarity and its potential for Israel
• [22:32–24:55] — Hartman’s support for Arab protesters and the meaning of Zionism
• [26:01–27:55] — Stalemate revisited: coalition math and the Netanyahu impasse
• [30:38–32:44] — Interim/minority government scenario, options for change
• [33:10–33:20] — Wild cards and unpredictability ahead of elections

Summary: Why This Episode Matters

"Election Currents" offers a candid, nuanced look at how Israeli society is being reshaped by political blocks and the redefinition of civic priorities. The conversation draws a vivid picture of shifting alliances, deep social challenges, and the stubborn complexities facing Israeli democracy, ending with a cautious hope that shared civic action—rather than mere electoral victory—can open new possibilities for the country’s future.

Listeners are left with a sense of critical uncertainty, but also an appreciation for the emergence of new, pragmatic solidarities across historic divides.