Yossi Verter, a seasoned political analyst, recently sounded such an alarm, portraying a government bent on manipulating the process. Politicians like Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, commentators across the spectrum and legal experts have voiced similar fears. The campaign is likely to be noisy, litigious and fraught with attempts to bend the rules, on both sides. Israel’s institutions remain bruised but intact, and its citizens are no strangers to struggle. The coming election will measure not just party strength but also the nation’s capacity to defend its own rules.