Israeli Politics in Turmoil as Party Lists Close

With just 120 hours remaining until party lists for the upcoming election must be finalized, Israel's political landscape is in flux. Intense negotiations and last-minute maneuvering are underway across the spectrum, as parties scramble to solidify their slates before the deadline on October 27th.

In the Likud party, MK Tali Gottlieb is reportedly considering a move to the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, citing dissatisfaction with her placement on the Likud list. This potential departure faces legal and technical hurdles. Meanwhile, the party is also dealing with fallout from a recount in Be'er Yaakov that affected the placement of other Likud members.

Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir is strengthening his position and aims to include Gottlieb high on his list, potentially in fourth place. He has issued an ultimatum to Likud to finalize the bureaucratic procedures for her transfer. In a separate development, Bezalel Smotrich's National Union party has merged with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party to prevent right-wing votes from falling below the electoral threshold.

Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, a prominent figure, is refusing to unite with established parties like Smotrich's or Ben-Gvir's, but is exploring a potential alliance with Professor Yaron Zelekha and the Economic Party. Winter has also set a condition for supporting Netanyahu: passing a conscription law before the government is sworn in.

On the center-left, the idea of a large joint list uniting Naftali Bennett's "Yachad" and Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" has been abandoned due to concerns about losing votes. This has intensified competition between Bennett and Eisenkot for key figures, particularly Chili Tropper. Bennett's party is also absorbing members from Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid, leading to a significant reduction in Yesh Atid's Knesset contingent and the departure of several veteran lawmakers.

Tropper and Yoaz Hendel's party, "Datiim Miluimnikim," faces challenges in passing the electoral threshold, making them targets for recruitment by other parties. Negotiations are ongoing, but Hendel's presence complicates potential agreements with Bennett and Eisenkot.

Benny Gantz and Gideon Sa'ar's bloc is still seeking a viable formula, struggling to gain traction in polls. Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu has warned that split candidacies could waste three to four mandates, urging larger parties to absorb smaller ones, though he ruled out a direct merger with Eisenkot.

In the Arab political sphere, the Joint List has reformed, uniting Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad. Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, is charting a different course, including former Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz in its second position, signaling an intent to join future coalitions.

The final days before the deadline are critical for resolving these complex negotiations, determining which parties will unite, who will withdraw, and how the final slate of candidates will appear before Israeli voters.