As Israelis headed to the polls, a segment of the electorate in West Bank settlements indicated a departure from their traditional support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Interviews conducted with residents in these communities reveal a growing disillusionment with the Prime Minister’s leadership, specifically regarding the security failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.

Many of these voters expressed that while they previously viewed Netanyahu as the primary guarantor of their interests, they now feel his administration has become ineffective. Instead, these voters are shifting their allegiance toward far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. Supporters of this shift argue that these ministers are more likely to implement aggressive security policies that would prevent future attacks. The sentiment among this group is that Netanyahu’s current approach lacks the necessary resolve, whereas his coalition partners are perceived as more willing to take decisive, albeit controversial, action to ensure the safety of settler communities.

While the report highlights this specific trend among a subset of the settler population, it does not provide data on the broader national consensus or the total percentage of settlers who remain loyal to the Prime Minister. The shift reflects a broader internal debate within the right-wing bloc regarding the efficacy of Netanyahu's long-term security strategy in the wake of the most significant security breach in the country's history.