2026 Israel Vote: Why This Election Is Not the Most Fateful

The repeated claim that this election is the most fateful in Israel’s history overlooks past elections. Danny Kushmaro has called every night’s election segment ‘the most fateful elections in Israel’s history,’ and he is not alone. Since 2021, every election has felt like the most fateful and important one. But perspective is needed, and this election is no different from the others.

Calling this the most important and fateful election ever turns the political competition, the battle between the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs, into nothing less than an existential matter. Defeat becomes harder to regard as a setback that can be corrected next time. Instead, it begins to sound like something the country cannot survive. And that can make accepting the outcome harder.

The repeated claim that this election is the most fateful in Israel’s history overlooks past elections. Danny Kushmaro has called every night’s election segment ‘the most fateful elections in Israel’s history,’ and he is not alone. Since 2021, every election has felt like the most fateful and important one. But perspective is needed, and this election is no different from the others.

Calling this the most important and fateful election ever turns the political competition, the battle between the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs, into nothing less than an existential matter. Defeat becomes harder to regard as a setback that can be corrected next time. Instead, it begins to sound like something the country cannot survive. And that can make accepting the outcome harder.

The repeated claim that this election is the most fateful in Israel’s history overlooks past elections. Danny Kushmaro has called every night’s election segment ‘the most fateful elections in Israel’s history,’ and he is not alone. Since 2021, every election has felt like the most fateful and important one. But perspective is needed, and this election is no different from the others.

Calling this the most important and fateful election ever turns the political competition, the battle between the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs, into nothing less than an existential matter. Defeat becomes harder to regard as a setback that can be corrected next time. Instead, it begins to sound like something the country cannot survive. And that can make accepting the outcome harder.