GEOFF BENNETT: Israel is once again facing political uncertainty after an election that has produced no clear governing majority amid competing allegations of voting fraud and irregularities.

But beyond the political maneuvering, what do the results reveal about how Israelis want their leaders to confront the country's mounting challenges?

For that, our Nick Schifrin spoke with retired Major General Tamir Hayman, former chief of Israeli military intelligence and current executive director of the Institute for National Security Studies.

That's a leading Israeli think tank.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Tamir Hayman, thank you very much.

Welcome to the "News Hour."

Regardless of whether Benjamin Netanyahu stays prime minister or Gadi Eisenkot becomes prime minister, is there an overall agreement on how Israel should approach its national security since October the 7th?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

), Former Chief, IDF Intelligence Directorate: It seems like Israelis are still in the trauma after post-October 7, and they are reluctant on going to any kinds of concessions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Most parties argue for a very hawkish, proactive approach in terms of the next state needed in confronting Hamas and Iran, et cetera, et cetera.

So it seems like, in that aspect there's a proactive, hawkish military, security approach that is accepted, and we are not entering a zone of agreements or a peace-aspiring environment.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You write that pursuing peace is considered a danger, and -- quote -- "War is necessary and preventive war is preferable."

Does that mean Israel is set to be in a perpetual state of war?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): Let me just emphasize that, in this article, I wanted to provoke a discussion, so I exaggerated a little bit in order to be able to observe trends.

But it seems to be describing trends that are in the consensus.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And where Israel is going?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): And where Israel going, if not diverted.

We are headed right now, brings us into very dangerous place.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Does Israeli leadership believe that a perpetual state of war is better?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): They do not believe that peace is a viable or tangible solution right now.

Most Israelis will consider any form of a peace as weakness, naive approach, trusting the Arabs, trusting the enemies.

The general sentiment is, we trusted the Arabs, and they betrayed us.

So what left is an ongoing state of confrontation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You describe, even if it's exaggerated, this severing with the United States.

And, again, I will I will read it, knowing that you say it's exaggerated, but it's very provocative.

"The United States is a declining power, and, given its ongoing social and political shifts, will soon abandon Israel.

In any event, excessive dependence on the U.S.

exposes Israel to the influence of a progressive American value system incompatible with Israel's Jewish character."

I mean, it's an understatement to call that controversial among American Jews, but is that where we're headed?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): It seems like we are losing our position as a consensus among Americans, and we are losing the bipartisan approach.

We have already lost the bipartisan position, and we are going to be maybe homeless in the political spectrum of United States.

Secondly, the fact that we are dependent on our national security on capabilities and backing from United States create vulnerabilities.

So, what is the rational outcome?

We must rely on ourselves.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Netanyahu has referred to Israel as super Sparta, basically being self-reliant on weapons, as you have been describing.

He's even suggested that Israel might have to rely on Bitcoin because of future sanctions.

How isolated, in your opinion, is Israel?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): The idea that if Israel will be ever isolated, it is an existential threat to the existence of Israel, OK?

The economy is based on high-tech and an advanced science.

That cannot be established in an isolation mode based on crypto.

Second, there's a true threat of isolation and sanctions.

But the way to handle it is to approach the causes of that.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But given the results of this election, even if we don't know exactly the numbers, in which Netanyahu and his bloc maintained the lead over the opposition bloc, doesn't that suggest that these trends are accelerating, that many Israelis have embraced these ideas that you're critiquing?

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): The political spectrum map is moving right.

The problem is that there is radicalization in the right-wing establishment after October 7.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And back to the concept that you write about.

And again, acknowledging that you say that you're exaggerating, there's one fundamental conclusion that you have, and that it's that the consensus is to -- quote -- "guarantee Israel's continued existence as a Jewish state, even at the cost of eroding its democratic values."

Explain that in simple terms.

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): The whole article asks critical question, whether it's good for Israel to move in that path.

Of course, it is wrong.

And that's what -- that's the whole purpose of this idea.

Why do I emphasize the tension between democratic and Jewish values?

Because if we're not going to do anything in the Palestinian arena, and we will annex the Palestinian territories, we will annex the West Bank into Israel, we will not have a Jewish majority.

And the only way to maintain a Jewish statehood is by eroding democracy.

This is an, again, existential threat to the identity of Israel as a Jewish democratic state.

And we must address this problem right now before it's too late.

Otherwise, you are losing -- you are losing the ground beneath your feet of the legitimacy of Israel to be a such unique balance between democracy and the Jewish state.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Tamir Hayman, thank you very much.

MAJ.

GEN.

TAMIR HAYMAN (RES.

): It's my pleasure.