A prominent Israeli activist and content creator has expressed reservations about the direction of Israel’s next government following recent elections, cautioning against replacing one form of political extremism with another. While strongly opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and calling for accountability, she emphasized the importance of maintaining democratic principles and values in any future administration.
The activist, who has campaigned vigorously for Netanyahu’s removal, acknowledged widespread frustration among Israelis eager for change. However, she warned that deposing the current prime minister should not come at the cost of compromising core democratic ideals. “If removing Netanyahu means abandoning the values we claim to be fighting for, then what exactly have we achieved?” she said, underscoring the need to preserve equality, individual freedoms, and democratic institutions.
Specifically, she rejected the inclusion of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a new government, describing their politics and rhetoric as fundamentally incompatible with the democratic and pluralistic Israel she envisions. At the same time, she declined to support incorporating the Joint List—a coalition of predominantly Arab parties—into the coalition merely as a tactic to unseat Netanyahu.
The activist made clear that her stance is neither a rejection of Arab citizens’ rights nor their participation in Israeli democracy. She praised Ra’am, an Arab party that has previously joined governing coalitions and demonstrated an ability to negotiate and govern within Israel’s political system. However, she drew a distinction with the Joint List, citing significant ideological differences within that bloc, particularly concerning the Balad party’s vision of Israel as a “state of all its citizens.”
She argued that Balad’s platform, which challenges Israel’s identity as a Jewish nation-state while advocating for full equality to all citizens regardless of ethnicity or religion, conflicts with her belief in a dual commitment to Jewish identity and democratic equality—as established in Israel’s Declaration of Independence. While acknowledging Balad’s stated support for gender equality, she criticized the party’s ambiguous positions on women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ issues, describing such uncertainty as insufficient for protecting fundamental freedoms.
Emphasizing that these issues are far from marginal, the activist made clear that women’s autonomy, LGBTQ+ rights, and legal equality are central to the society she hopes to see. She expressed concern that compromising on these freedoms for the sake of political expediency risks undermining the democratic fabric of Israel.
Rejecting a binary framework that casts the choices as between “Jewish extremists” and “Muslim extremists,” the activist highlighted Israel’s complexity and diversity. She argued that it is possible to oppose figures like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich without endorsing all parties representing Arab citizens. Moreover, she maintained that political compromise does not equate to abandoning critical values that define the state’s character.
As a self-described liberal Zionist, she articulated a vision of Israel as both the homeland of the Jewish people and a democratic society that guarantees human rights and individual freedoms. Her objective remains an Israel where these elements reinforce each other, where Arab citizens have meaningful participation, and where no extremist faction dictates the rights of others.
Despite her continued opposition to Netanyahu, she affirmed that the measure of political progress should extend beyond leadership changes to include what principles are preserved and what kind of nation is constructed. Looking ahead, she expressed hope for a secure, democratic, Jewish, and free Israel for future generations—a country that need not choose between identity and values, and where combating extremism does not require embracing it.