Northern Israelis reconsider support for Netanyahu amid continuous Israeli war
Residents in traditional Likud strongholds cite prolonged conflict, insecurity and living costs before Israel’s October 27 election
NAHARIYA, Israel (MNTV) — Some voters in northern Israel who previously supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are reconsidering their political allegiance ahead of the Oct. 27 election, citing prolonged insecurity, economic pressure and dissatisfaction with his government’s handling of years of conflict.
According to AFP, residents in several traditional Netanyahu strongholds said they no longer intended to support his right-wing government after years of fighting and displacement failed to deliver lasting security to communities near the Lebanese border.
Plant nursery owner Sigal Malachi said many people she knew had previously supported Netanyahu but had since changed their political views. Her business remained closed for years after violence forced residents from northern communities.
A November 2024 ceasefire temporarily halted the fighting and residents were eventually allowed to return in early 2025, but renewed Israeli bombardment on Southern Lebanon again destabilized the northern border.
Maxim Zarbaylov, a longtime Nahariya resident who previously voted for Netanyahu’s Likud party, said he planned to support former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s principal election rival.
The prolonged bombardment has exacted a heavy toll on north side of the border, where Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed more than 4,300 Lebanese citizens since 2023, along with some Israeli casualties.
Shadi Tuma, a supermarket owner in the border town of Shlomi, said residents were experiencing severe psychological strain after years of conflict and accused the government of failing to provide an adequate response.
Political dissatisfaction has also been driven by economic pressures. Tuma said many residents were struggling with the high cost of living and had lost confidence in the government.
Likud won 43% of votes in Shlomi during the 2022 election, compared with 23% nationwide, while 38% of voters in Nahariya supported the party.
Not all residents have abandoned Netanyahu. Some continue to argue that a right-wing government offers the strongest security policies, underscoring the divisions among northern voters as the election approaches.
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