In the lead-up to Israel’s upcoming election, debates over ethnic identity among political figures have taken an unexpected turn, highlighting the complex and shifting nature of identity politics within the country.

Right-wing journalist Yinon Magal recently challenged traditional markers of ethnic background in a discussion about opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot. Magal criticized the emphasis on Eisenkot’s Moroccan heritage, noting that Eisenkot’s daughter recently held a secular wedding on Shabbat without a rabbi or chuppah. He suggested that the true measure of identity lies not in one’s parental origins but rather in the upbringing and choices of one’s children. This perspective subverts the conventional understanding of ethnic identity as based on ancestry.

At the same time, media personality Jacob Bardugo sparked further controversy by reclassifying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, traditionally regarded as Ashkenazi given his family roots in Poland, as “the first Sephardi prime minister.” Bardugo argued that ethnic identification transcends lineage, describing it instead as a matter of “connection,” though he did not elaborate on what that connection entails.

These statements underscore a broader shift in how ethnic identity is being framed within Israeli politics. Historically, voter affiliation often aligned with ethnic divisions: Mizrahi Jews tended to support right-wing parties, while Ashkenazi Jews gravitated toward the political left. This long-standing divide has fueled tensions and even disdain along ethnic lines. Terms loaded with derogatory connotations, such as “ars” (for Mizrahim) and “left-winger” (pejoratively applied to Ashkenazim), have reinforced these social and political fractures.

However, recent rhetoric suggests a reversal or blurring of these traditional ethnic-political boundaries. In a rhetorical twist, Netanyahu, of Ashkenazi descent, is being positioned as Mizrahi, while Eisenkot, whose lineage is Moroccan, is cast as Ashkenazi — illustrating how political allegiance may now supersede ethnic origins in public discourse. Some analysts speculate this narrative adjustment reflects strategic efforts within Netanyahu’s camp to reclaim the ethnic card amid a highly polarized electoral environment, despite Eisenkot being regarded as an authentic Mizrahi candidate.

This evolving discourse challenges the conventional reliance on genealogy to determine community and identity in Israel. Instead, political loyalties increasingly serve as proxies for ethnicity, suggesting that notions of identity politics are undergoing a significant transformation. How these shifting definitions will impact voter behavior and social cohesion remains to be seen as the election approaches.