Israeli Political Panel Discusses Election Alliances and Controversies
A panel of Israeli political analysts on the "Kippot Barzel" (Iron Domes) program discussed the upcoming elections, focusing on potential alliances and the struggles of certain candidates. The "Srugim" website's editor, Aryeh Yoeli, noted that the technical alliance between Moshe Feiglin and Bezalel Smotrich is not ideological but a strategic move, suggesting Prime Minister Netanyahu pressured various figures, including Avi Wiessman and Ofer Winter, to form blocs. Yoeli believes Feiglin made a mistake by aligning with Smotrich instead of occupying a more centrist liberal economic space.
Strategic advisor Avi Wiessman expressed skepticism about the Smotrich-Feiglin union's electoral strength, predicting that only Itamar Ben-Gvir is guaranteed to pass the electoral threshold with double-digit support, while only one of either Winter or the Smotrich-Feiglin bloc will succeed. Analyst Yishai Cohen revealed that Ofer Winter is facing significant challenges, falling short of expected poll numbers after a well-funded campaign launch. Cohen suggested Winter might need to unite with Moti Leitner of the ultra-Orthodox party, warning that failure to do so could end his political career.
The panel also addressed a controversial interview given by the daughters of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who criticized the current leadership of the Shas party, led by Aryeh Deri, for deviating from their father's principles on issues like military conscription and core curriculum studies. Yishai Cohen defended the current Shas leadership, citing recordings of Rabbi Yosef endorsing his son, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, as his successor and reiterating his opposition to drafting Torah scholars. Strategic advisor Rami Firo suggested the daughters' statements could damage Shas electorally, arguing the party has shifted too far towards the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox community.
Another significant discussion revolved around an incident where three Givati Brigade soldiers, students of Hesder yeshivas, refused to serve in a Namer armored personnel carrier with a female paramedic, leading to their imprisonment. Avi Wiessman deemed the incident unnecessary and reiterated his opposition to widespread Haredi enlistment, fearing it could lead to a more fundamentalist military. Aryeh Yoeli, however, praised the soldiers for standing by their principles, blaming commanders for mishnandling the situation. Yishai Cohen expressed concern that such incidents undermine efforts to recruit from the Haredi sector, while Rami Firo highlighted the humiliation faced by the paramedic.
