Since allegedly being infiltrated by Center-Right elements, the anti-Netanyahu camp – more commonly known as the Center-Left bloc – has been calling itself the "pro-change camp." The "change" in question naturally speaks to replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but not just him. The "pro-change camp" seeks to promote a host of changes that contradict the values of the opposite end of the political spectrum.
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In a frenetic and aggressive election campaign, there is no time to delve into the actual issues and parties prefer to compress the message into a catchy and concise slogan that will make their point. But right now, is exactly the time to take a moment and thing about the identity and character of the country, the future of which will be determined in the coming hours.
Two weeks ago, the High Court of Justice ordered the state to recognize non-Orthodox conversions. Every religious and right-wing party issued statements condemning the ruling, with the expectation of Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope, as he said he sought to "study the ruling" before commenting on it, which he still has not done.
This is not a coincidence. The "pro-change camp" has been waiting for this for a long time. For them, Netanyahu is what is preventing, through his conservative coalition, any change in favor of the liberal and progressive values they espouse.
What stands between the Left and Israel becoming a pluralistic state that promotes LGBTQ rights, the legalization of drugs, recognition of same-sex families, banning conversion therapy, relegating the Shabbat to being "just" another day, and abolishing Israel as a nation-state of the Jewish people by repealing the nation-state law, is one thing: they can't find a way to form a government that is not led by Netanyahu.
For them, Netanyahu is the issue – not Likud. Once he is removed from power, the conservative coalition will follow. If they are able to do that they will show no mercy when striving to upend Israel's character. They will storm this bastion without delay.
The same is true of the judiciary. The status of the High Court of Justice, the State Attorney's Office, and public service officials – the "pro-change camp" opposes any change to their status. If anything it seeks to give them more power over our lives.
These elections are about so much more than whether Israelis support Netanyahu the man. They will impact a host of issues and values. They say every Israeli election are "crucial" but just because that's a cliché doesn't mean it's not true.
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