The echoes of the election results in Hungary continue to resonate strongly within Israeli political circles, especially after the overthrow of Viktor Orbán, Benjamin Netanyahu's most prominent ally on the European continent. Attention is now turning to the Israeli opposition and its ability to leverage this model to break the stalemate of the ruling right-wing coalition, which has withstood attempts at change for many years.
Noa Lavie, an academic specializing in governance and society, believes that the Hungarian experience succeeded in penetrating the wall of pessimism that dominates the Israeli street. Events have proven that systems that seem resistant to change can collapse in the face of a popular movement led by young people who are fed up with repeated promises and a deteriorating economic reality.
The paradox in the Hungarian case is that victory was not achieved by a leftist leader, but was led by Péter Magyar, a right-wing figure who emerged from within the system itself. Magyar's discourse focused on tangible issues affecting citizens' daily lives, such as combating rampant corruption and confronting exorbitant living costs, away from traditional ideological slogans.
Analyses confirm that what happened in Hungary was not an intellectual victory for the left, but a popular uprising against a system that adopted cronyism as a method of governance. Hungarian youth expressed their frustration with economic stagnation and their feeling that the state had turned into a network serving the interests of a select few at the expense of eroding national institutions.
In the Israeli context, a fundamental question arises about the possibility of repeating this scenario, despite the prevailing belief that Israeli youth tend to be conservative and right-wing. Observers believe that a superficial reading of reality may conceal a popular ferment no less dangerous than what Hungary witnessed, especially with the increasing feeling of political alienation.
Statistical data for 2025 indicates a bleak picture of Israeli youth's trust in their state institutions, with only 28.1% trusting the government. This collapse of trust extends to the Knesset as well, reflecting a widening gap between the younger generation and the political class managing the country's affairs.
Figures released by research institutes show that less than 10% of Israeli youth believe they have the actual ability to influence public policies. This feeling of helplessness does not necessarily mean indifference, but rather indicates a deep despair with the current political rules that no longer meet their aspirations for a decent life.
Despite this despair, data showed that youth civic and public participation witnessed a significant increase after the outbreak of the current war, refuting the accusation of their isolation. This generation, involved in fieldwork and civil work, seems to have stopped believing in the traditional political process, but is looking for alternative paths to change.
Historically, youth voting rates in Israel have seen a significant decline, falling from about 80% in 2015 to about 60% in the last elections. However, this rate remains high compared to many European countries, meaning that the young voting bloc can still decide results if it finds the right incentive.
Israeli youth consistently classify themselves within the right wing, and tend to support ruling coalition parties based on national and security considerations. Social surveys also show that a wide segment of them believe in the necessity of loyalty to leaders, which makes the traditional opposition's task of attracting them extremely difficult.
The key to change lies in understanding that the young generation does not seek to undermine authority itself, but yearns for an authority whose integrity and justice it can believe in. Here lies the importance of the Hungarian model, where young people there did not turn into liberals, but chose a new right that promises order and clean governance away from the corruption of the ruling elite.
The victorious Hungarian leader drew a clear and decisive line titled 'Corruption,' which may be the only entry point for political change in an environment dominated by right-wing thought. The public that sanctifies authority may turn against it if it feels that it has lost its moral legitimacy and has become a tool for politicizing appointments and diverting budgets to cronies.
Israel is currently suffering from systematic operations to weaken the 'guardians of the state' and politicize professional institutions, which generates a growing feeling of distress among citizens. This feeling of injustice, especially in times of wars and crises, represents the real fuel for any upcoming political movement aimed at correcting the course.
Ultimately, the challenge facing the Israeli opposition is not to change the ideology of youth, but to provide leadership that speaks the language of justice and dignity. The generation that grew up respecting authority will not accept continuing to support a corrupt system, and will sooner or later realize that true loyalty must be to the state and its values, not to individuals who violate the rules.
The story is not a conflict between right and left, but a deep crisis of trust in the government and the youth's belief in the future under a system managed by cronyism.
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Lessons from Hungary: Can the Israeli Opposition Replicate the Experience of Overthrowing the Right?