Netanyahu Faces Knesset Election Chaos as Parties Rush to Finalize Lists

With less than a week remaining until the deadline for submitting Knesset candidate lists, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is experiencing significant disarray. Netanyahu has publicly urged smaller parties supporting him to unite, warning that fragmented votes could lead to long-term losses.

In response, Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party and Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit are reportedly in negotiations, though Ben-Gvir remains hesitant to run on a joint list with Smotrich, despite polls indicating a combined list would garner significantly more mandates. Ofer Winter's party, "Am Israel," is also a factor, with its electoral viability dependent on these mergers.

Meanwhile, within Netanyahu's Likud party, the composition of the list is causing internal friction. Netanyahu has utilized several reserved spots for allies, leaving limited options for others. The list has also drawn criticism for its lack of female representation in top positions. Tali Gottlieb, a candidate, has reportedly threatened to leave the party and made controversial claims about a deal involving Netanyahu's legal situation and judicial reform.

The ultra-Orthodox parties are also navigating complex dynamics. While Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah will run together as United Torah Judaism, and Shas will run separately, new ultra-Orthodox factions are emerging, seeking to represent different segments of the community and address issues like draft exemptions and broader societal integration.

In the opposition, Benny Gantz's National Unity party is reportedly in talks to merge with other centrist factions, with Gantz demanding the top spot on the list, citing his experience and a significant financial contribution. However, polls suggest that even merged lists in this "third bloc" may struggle to pass the electoral threshold.

Further complicating the landscape, the Arab political parties are also finalizing their lists. The Joint List parties (Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad) have agreed to run together, with Joseph Jabarin at the helm. Separately, former MK Yoav Seglovitz has joined Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party, a move that could shift mandates within the anti-Netanyahu bloc.