Netanyahu Erased Red Line Between Likud and Kahanism, Analyst Argues
A significant shift has occurred within the Israeli right, where the "red line" once separating mainstream parties from Kahanist ideology has been erased, according to an analysis. In the 1980s, figures like Meir Kahane were ostracized, with even members of the Likud party, including under Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, refusing to share a platform with him. This historical stance contrasted sharply with the present, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has integrated figures associated with Kahanism into the political mainstream.
The article highlights a 2021 interview where Netanyahu explicitly stated that Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for controversial views, would not serve in his government and was unfit to be a minister due to his positions, including alleged racism and homophobia. However, less than two years later, Netanyahu appointed Ben-Gvir as National Security Minister. The analysis posits that Ben-Gvir's views did not change, but rather Netanyahu's threshold for political expediency shifted, driven by his personal and political circumstances, including his ongoing trial.
This integration is presented as a broader process initiated by Netanyahu, aimed at preventing the rise of a significant party to the right of Likud that could be considered politically "unmarriageable." Netanyahu is credited with facilitating the entry of "Otzma Yehudit" (Jewish Power) candidates into the Knesset by ensuring they passed the electoral threshold, transforming them from a fringe element into a "natural coalition partner" and eventually a government component.
The blurring of lines is further exemplified by the movement of politicians between Likud and Otzma Yehudit. Almog Cohen, initially elected for Otzma Yehudit, secured a high position on the Likud list for the current elections after Netanyahu personally intervened. Cohen himself reportedly described his party's softening of stances as a "Trojan horse" tactic to normalize extremist candidates. Conversely, Likud MKs like Tali Gottlieb and May Golan are suggested as potential candidates to move to Otzma Yehudit without it being seen as a major ideological shift, indicating a deep entanglement between the two political entities.
The article concludes that the distinction between Likud and Otzma Yehudit has become almost nonexistent, suggesting they may represent different branches of the same "racist-Kahanist political space." This gradual normalization of Kahanism, the author argues, could backfire on Netanyahu, potentially leading to a decline in Likud's electoral support as voters who previously wouldn't consider Kahanist parties might now be open to them, effectively allowing Kahanism to "drink mandates" from Likud.
