1. Oslo Accords
During and after the signing of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Israeli citizens erupted into massive protests against the Israeli government for agreeing to turn over land that historically belonged to the Jewish people. In the aftermath of Oslo, Islamic Palestinian groups, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, engaged in suicide bombing campaigns against Jews in Israel, even after the PLO agreed to crack down on and arrest such groups. As a result, many Israelis lost hope of any peace agreement with the Palestinians given the insecurity, resulting in the election of then-Likud leader Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu as Prime Minister to stop the terrorism and not give in to outrageous demands by the Palestinians. Since the Oslo Accords, many Israelis have realized that providing concessions to Palestinian terrorists is not a viable or suitable peace solution.
2. Terrorism
As groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to wage terrorism against Israel via rockets, suicide bombings, knife attacks, and more, many Israelis have become more conservative, electing pro-national security leaders. Politicians like Bibi Netanyahu and Itamar Ben Gvir have risen to power because of their campaign promises to strengthen security for Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel and stop the wave of attacks. When the PLO was in Lebanon in the 1960s, Right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin received support from Israeli citizenry to go to war against Yassar Arafat, successfully kicking out the PLO leader and severely damaging the terrorist entity. During the Obama administration, many Israelis supported Bibi Netanyahu and his policies against Iran, given the Obama administration opted to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear agreement, providing Israel's arch-nemesis with legitimacy instead of standing with the Jewish state in stopping Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
3. Economic Reforms
Another reason why Israel has become a more conservative nation is because of Bibi Netanyahu's free-market economic policies, which have strengthened the country's economy since he began his term in March 2009. According to reports, per-capita GDP grew 60% between 2009 and 2020 from $27,500 to $43,689 and now places Israel among the top 20 nations in the world, while unemployment reached a record low of 3.4% in the months before the coronavirus pandemic. Netanyahu's policies have also made the Jewish state a famous high-tech center for innovation and growth. The free-market reforms have pulled many Jews and Palestinian Arabs from poverty to middle and upper-income mobility. As a result, the Jewish people have a strong and vibrant economy.
4. Left-Wing Antisemitism
As a result of the Left-wing takeover of American institutions, including education, media, Hollywood, and the Democrat party, the Jewish state has grown close to conservative and Republican politicians in the U.S. that continue to openly and unapologetically support Israel. Social justice trends have called Israel’s legitimacy into question, often influenced by those seeking to completely dismantle it from the face of the map, support boycott movements, and spread false narratives about Israel and its treatment of Palestinians. As the BDS movement strengthens in America and continues to elect progressive politicians to stand against Israel, many Israelis have felt they can no longer rely on the Democrat party to stand with them ending decades of bipartisan support. During the Trump presidency, many Israelis had positive views toward the then-President following his decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, and foster new relationships with several Arab states.
5. Patriotism
For many Israelis, Israel is and will always be a "Jewish state" because of the covenant God gave to Abraham thousands of years ago. Throughout the history of the Jewish people, Jews have faced hostility and ultimately ended up almost extinct. Following the Holocaust, the Jewish state's re-establishment in 1948, the wars against the Arab states, and Islamic terrorism, Israelis have adopted a deep-rooted love and appreciation for their country, doing everything in their power to defend it at all costs. For many Israelis, having secure borders, appreciation for one's home, national security and defense, and international legitimization guarantee a future for Israel and its people for centuries. Despite threats from Iran, Islamic terrorist groups, and left-wing organizations vowing to destroy the Jewish state, many Israelis have become reinvigorated in their patriotism to defend their homeland from foreign threats.
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