Israel

20 people · 38 changes of mind, 1978–2026

Every change of mind on record. Tap one for the full record.

How this works

Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.

Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.

The short labels on each line are our summaries.

1. Avigdor LibermanLeader of Yisrael Beiteinu; former Foreign, Defence and Finance Minister · Yisrael Beiteinu
   • Netanyahu as prime minister Backs Netanyahu in office Netanyahu must not serve 2013–2026
   • Governing with Arab parties The Joint List is the enemy Abbas is a coalition colleague No Arab parties in government 2019–2025
   • A Palestinian state Two states, with swaps No Palestinian state 2014–2024
   • The Supreme Court and the Knesset Backs the PM’s court plan Reform, but not this one Obey only the Supreme Court 2018–2023
2. Bezalel SmotrichMinister of Finance; Chairman of Religious Zionism · Religious Zionism
   • Judicial reform Push the reform through Slow down, seek agreement Push the reform through 2023–2026
   • Netanyahu as prime minister Doubts Netanyahu's leadership Backs Netanyahu as PM Doubts Netanyahu's leadership 2019–2025
3. Gideon Sa'arForeign Minister of Israel (from November 2024) · New Hope / National Right
   • Judicial reform Override court rulings Reform by agreement Judge-selection law stands 2020–2026
   • The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara Backs the AG’s office Attacks the AG 2022–2025
   • Serving in a government headed by Netanyahu Won’t serve under Netanyahu In Netanyahu’s government 2020–2024
4. Yair GolanLeader of The Democrats; former Deputy Chief of Staff of the IDF · The Democrats
   • Sitting in a government with the Haredi parties Open to Haredi partners The Haredim stay out 2019–2026
5. Naftali BennettFormer Prime Minister of Israel · Yamina (in 2021)
   • Sitting in a government under Netanyahu Committed to neither bloc Won’t sit under Netanyahu 2021–2026
   • A government relying on Mansour Abbas's Ra'am No government via Ra’am Ra’am in the coalition No government via Ra’am 2021–2026
   • Yair Lapid as prime minister Lapid won’t be PM Lapid PM in rotation 2021
6. Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of Israel · Likud
   • A Palestinian state Against a Palestinian state Open to a demilitarised state No Palestinian state now Open to a demilitarised state Against a Palestinian state 1997–2025
   • Changing the Supreme Court and the judicial system Protect court independence Comprehensive judicial reform Pause for broad agreement 2012–2023
   • Itamar Ben Gvir as a minister Coalition, not minister Minister over the police 2021–2022
7. Itamar Ben GvirLeader of Otzma Yehudit; Minister of National Security · Otzma Yehudit
   • Leaving the government over a Gaza deal Leaves over a Gaza deal In the government 2025
   • The picture of Baruch Goldstein in his home The picture stays up Takes it down for unity No longer where he was 2019–2022
8. Yair LapidFormer Prime Minister of Israel · Yesh Atid
   • A Palestinian state Two states for two peoples No two states this decade 2022–2025
   • Judicial reform Curbs the activist court Defends the court's independence 2014–2023
   • Relying on Arab parties No bloc with Arab parties Arab party in his coalition 2013–2022
9. Sever PlockerColumnist and economics editor, Yedioth Ahronoth · None
   • The Gaza disengagement Disengagement failed Complete the disengagement 2018–2025
10. Benny GantzFormer Defence Minister of Israel · Blue and White / National Unity
    • Judicial reform Fights the override clause Backs the President's outline A real reform is needed 2022–2024
    • Sitting in a government with Netanyahu Won’t sit with Netanyahu In government with Netanyahu Won’t sit with Netanyahu In government with Netanyahu Leaves Netanyahu's government 2019–2024
11. Gadi TaubHistorian, author and political commentator
    • Partition and a Palestinian state For partition Self-rule, Israeli security No two-state solution 2010–2024
12. Aryeh DeriChairman of Shas · Shas
    • Judicial reform Reform will be implemented Dialogue on the reform 2023
    • Sitting in a government with Yair Lapid Won't sit with Lapid Will sit with Lapid on terms 2013–2019
13. Ayelet ShakedFormer Interior Minister and Justice Minister of Israel · Yamina / Jewish Home
    • Judicial reform Curb the court’s powers Reform by agreement 2019–2023
    • Mansour Abbas and Ra'am Embracing Abbas isn’t right-wing Abbas is no terror supporter 2021–2022
14. Merav MichaeliFormer Labor Party leader; former Transport Minister · Labor (Ha'Avoda)
    • Naftali Bennett as prime minister Won't block a Bennett bloc Doesn't want Bennett as PM In Bennett's government 2021
15. A. B. YehoshuaNovelist and public intellectual (1936–2022)
    • Two states or one Separate, with a border Open to a federation plan Else one state, equal rights One state, no alternative 2001–2021
16. Isaac HerzogPresident of Israel; formerly leader of the Zionist Union and of Labor · Labor / Zionist Union (at the time)
    • Joining Netanyahu's government Opposition, not the government Tried to join the government 2015–2016
17. Tzipi LivniFormer Foreign Minister of Israel (2006–2009) · Likud, then Kadima and Hatnua
    • Sitting in Netanyahu's government Opposition, not his government In his government 2009–2013
    • Giving up part of the Land of Israel The dream is not over Give up part of the land 1999–2005
18. Ehud BarakFormer Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Israel · Labor (at the time)
    • Joining Netanyahu's government (2009) Labor in the opposition Labor in the government 2009
19. Ehud OlmertFormer Prime Minister of Israel (2006–2009) · Likud, then Kadima
    • Dividing Jerusalem and the 1967 lines Never 1967, never divide Cede land, Jerusalem included 2003–2008
    • Evacuating the Sinai settlements for peace with Egypt Against evacuating Sinai Begin was right, I was wrong 1978–2007
20. Ariel SharonFormer Prime Minister of Israel (2001–2006) · Likud, then Kadima
    • Evacuating the settlements in Gaza No evacuation of settlements Only in a final agreement Leave Gaza unilaterally 2000–2004

Debates

One question, several people, one shared scale over the years.

• A Palestinian state 6 people
• Sitting with Netanyahu 7 people
• Governing with an Arab party 4 people
• Judicial reform 8 people