Positions for the 2026 election

El HaDegel

El HaDegel is a pragmatic Zionist political movement founded by reservists, male and female combat soldiers, and civic leaders. It has an active website, vision papers, a detailed service bill, field activity, and media visibility ahead of the 2026 election. Because it has relatively extensive public policy materials, it is included here even though it is not yet an official candidate list registered with the Central Elections Committee.

A documented position on 13 of 30 statements

Democracy and governance

A state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7 should be established under the Commissions of Inquiry Law, with its members appointed by the President of the Supreme Court.

NeutralPartial evidence

El HaDegel’s website states that answers must be provided before a state commission of inquiry, but another article headed “A state commission of inquiry now” expressly says that the demand should focus on the investigators and their powers, not on who makes the appointments. Because the statement includes a particular appointment mechanism, the position was therefore changed to neutral.

The scope of the Supreme Court's judicial review of government and Knesset decisions should be reduced.

AgreeStrong evidence

El HaDegel’s official position states that the court would operate within clear boundaries and could not invalidate laws on the basis of general principles, but only where they directly contradict a Basic Law. This is precise and current wording that would narrow the scope of review over the Knesset.

The Prime Minister should be limited to two consecutive terms in office.

AgreePartial evidence

In its current platform, El HaDegel pledges to limit a prime minister’s tenure to eight years—almost exactly two full terms. The wording specifies a number of years rather than two consecutive terms.

Dedicated coalition funds that are not allocated according to equitable criteria should be abolished and transferred to regular ministry budgets, even if doing so would affect existing coalition agreements.

AgreePartial evidence

El HaDegel’s platform proposes moving from sectoral allocations to national, equitable budgeting. This direction is consistent with the statement, but no wording was found in the source that requires overriding every existing coalition agreement.

Ministers and the government should be permitted to act contrary to the Attorney General's opinion as long as a court has not invalidated their decision.

No clear public position found

No quotation, platform provision, or parliamentary action was found in the sources reviewed that resolves whether the government may act contrary to the Attorney General’s opinion as long as a court has not invalidated the decision. General support for gatekeepers or for an independent judiciary is insufficient for this precise mechanism.

Security, diplomacy and the conflict

Israel should promote a regional-international framework for the civil administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the war, provided that Hamas does not control it.

AgreeStrong evidence

El HaDegel expressly publishes the goal of a demilitarized civilian government in Gaza, with Israeli security responsibility and regional backing. This directly combines a non-Hamas civilian government with a regional framework.

Even after a civil administration is established in the Gaza Strip, Israel should retain long-term security control of Gaza's borders and freedom of military action within it.

AgreePartial evidence

El HaDegel stipulates Israeli security responsibility alongside a demilitarized civilian government and regional backing. This points in the direction of the statement, but it does not explicitly address both border control and freedom of action inside the Strip.

Israel should promote a regional diplomatic initiative that also includes a pathway to a Palestinian state.

DisagreePartial evidence

El HaDegel portrays a horizon for a Palestinian state as a negative outcome that would reward Hamas. This points against the statement, but it is not a complete diplomatic plan resolving every condition for a regional settlement.

Israeli sovereignty should be applied to Area C in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).

No clear public position found

El HaDegel’s available platform speaks of exacting a territorial price for security needs and not relinquishing assets, but it does not commit to applying sovereignty throughout Area C. This is a nearby position, not the same position.

Women should be integrated more broadly into all combat and command roles in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), subject to uniform professional criteria.

No clear public position found

El HaDegel emphasizes service by every segment of the population and accommodations for religious belief, but does not specify opening every combat and command role to women. The general principle does not resolve the statement.

Israeli civilian settlement in the Gaza Strip should be renewed.

DisagreePartial evidence

In an official El HaDegel article, Matan Yaffe wrote that the government’s focus on settlement in Gaza is a detached vision rather than a strategy. This directly opposes advancing the measure, although an opinion article is not a binding platform.

The death penalty should be imposed on anyone convicted of murder committed as part of an act of terrorism.

NeutralPartial evidence

An official El HaDegel article states that the death penalty can be justified in certain cases, but rejects a culture that celebrates executions. This is a conditional position: it neither supports a blanket requirement nor rules out the penalty in every case.

Shared service and burden

Mandatory military or civilian service should apply to all population groups, with only limited exemptions.

AgreeStrong evidence

El HaDegel’s platform requires every citizen to perform military, national, or civilian service, exactly as the statement proposes.

Significant personal and financial sanctions should be imposed on people legally required to enlist who fail to report without a lawful exemption, including yeshiva students.

AgreeStrong evidence

El HaDegel links non-service to the personal loss of economic and employment rights, with no sector-wide exemption.

Religion, state and civic identity

Civil marriage should be available in Israel alongside religious marriage for those who choose it.

No clear public position found

El HaDegel’s platform addresses freedom of religion and a civil contract, but no clear commitment was found to full civil marriage alongside religious marriage.

Rabbinical and Sharia courts should be permitted to serve as arbitrators in civil disputes when all parties freely consent.

No clear public position found

No sufficiently direct public source was found that resolves El HaDegel’s position on permitting consensual civil arbitration in religious courts.

Public transport on Shabbat should be permitted in local authorities that choose to provide it.

No clear public position found

No explicit provision was found in El HaDegel’s platform on public transport on Shabbat at the discretion of local authorities.

Funding for educational institutions should be conditional on teaching a minimum core curriculum.

AgreeStrong evidence

El HaDegel’s platform requires a mandatory baseline in every publicly funded educational institution. This is an express condition linking funding to a minimum core curriculum.

The right to equality and the prohibition of discrimination should be explicitly entrenched in a Basic Law.

No clear public position found

El HaDegel’s platform speaks of equal rights and duties, but does not commit to a general Basic Law enshrining equality and prohibiting discrimination.

An Arab party that accepts the government's basic policy guidelines should be permitted to join the coalition.

No clear public position found

No explicit rule was found in El HaDegel’s platform or a leadership statement regarding an Arab party joining a coalition after accepting its basic guidelines.

Economy, welfare and cost of living

The tax burden on high-income earners should be increased to fund expanded social services.

No clear public position found

No provision was found in El HaDegel’s program that resolves taxing high earners in order to expand social services.

The basket of price-controlled food products should be expanded, even if this reduces the profitability of producers and retail chains.

No clear public position found

El HaDegel supports removing barriers and increasing competition, but no position on food-price controls was found. There is no basis to determine whether it supports or opposes them.

Tariffs on imported agricultural food products should be reduced, even if this harms some farmers and domestic producers.

No clear public position found

No precise provision was found in El HaDegel’s program on reducing tariffs on agricultural food products versus protecting domestic production.

Eligibility for daycare subsidies should not be determined solely by the mother's employment; whether the father works, studies, or serves should also be considered.

No clear public position found

El HaDegel’s service program does not specify whether or how the father’s status would be used in daycare-subsidy eligibility criteria.

The VAT-exemption threshold for personal imports should be raised from $75 to $130, even if this harms local shops and businesses that compete with overseas sellers.

No clear public position found

No El HaDegel source was found that resolves the VAT-exemption order up to $130.

Rights, enforcement and internal security

In exceptional cases and subject to judicial review, administrative detention should be permitted for Jewish citizens suspected of planning nationalist violence against Palestinians or the security forces, even when there is insufficient evidence for immediate criminal proceedings.

No clear public position found

As of 3 August 2026, no clear, current public position by El HaDegel was found on the specific mechanism in the statement. Opposition to violence or general support for enforcement is insufficient to attribute a position.

The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law should be eased so that Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens can obtain status after an individual security screening, instead of being subject to a blanket ban.

No clear public position found

No provision was found in El HaDegel’s platform on easing the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law and permitting Palestinian family reunification following individual assessment.

Conversion therapy for minors should be prohibited by law.

No clear public position found

No source was found in El HaDegel’s platform or a leadership statement that resolves a statutory prohibition on conversion therapy for minors.

In combating crime in Arab society, a multi-year government-led civilian program that strengthens local authorities should be preferred over relying mainly on the Shin Bet and emergency powers.

AgreeStrong evidence

El HaDegel proposes a national program combining enforcement and weapons collection with education, training, infrastructure, service, housing, and strengthening Arab localities.

Transport and infrastructure

A congestion charge should be implemented in the Gush Dan metropolitan area, with its revenue dedicated to improving public transport, even if private-car travel during peak hours becomes more expensive.

No clear public position found

No provision was found in El HaDegel’s program that resolves the Greater Tel Aviv congestion charge.

Last updated: 2026-08-04