Netanyahu Pushes Right-Wing Unifications Amid Resistance Ahead of Election Deadline

With less than two weeks remaining before the candidate list deadline for the upcoming elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intensifying efforts to prevent vote splitting within the right-wing bloc. Netanyahu is actively promoting mergers between factions, specifically aiming to unite Ofer Winter with Bezalel Smotrich, and to bring together Moshe Feiglin and Itamar Ben-Gvir. However, none of the four politicians currently support these forced alliances.

To facilitate these political consolidations, Netanyahu is reserving five realistic secured spots on the Likud party list, including three high-ranking positions. These slots are intended either to integrate merged factions directly into Likud or to compensate candidates who must relinquish their places due to party mergers. Netanyahu’s pressure on Winter is indirect, as Winter is not traditionally aligned with the right-wing bloc’s network, unlike Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, over whom Netanyahu has more leverage.

Several weeks ago, Netanyahu offered Winter a secured spot on the Likud list, but Winter declined or did not respond. Winter’s associates explain his refusal by citing his unwillingness to join forces with a party they view as partly responsible for the failures of October 7. Winter’s newly formed party currently polls between zero and six seats, with the real political maneuvering expected to begin next week as voter intentions become clearer.

Benny Biton, mayor of Dimona and Likud member, revealed in a recent interview that Winter was initially slated for a Likud secured spot by Netanyahu but chose to sever contact, ignoring calls from Netanyahu’s office. Biton emphasized that Netanyahu is not worried about Winter’s popularity but is focused on the overall right-wing bloc. He expressed confidence that Winter will ultimately align with Netanyahu and serve under his government if Netanyahu returns as prime minister.

In response to criticism about Winter’s past statements calling for Netanyahu’s resignation after October 7, Biton suggested such remarks are typical election rhetoric and that all parties will unite when forming the next government.