Bennett and Eizenkot Hold Secret Talks on Political Alliance Amidst Election Deadline

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot met secretly last Saturday to discuss a potential political alliance ahead of the upcoming elections. The talks are ongoing but have not yet solidified, primarily due to reservations from Eizenkot's camp. They are concerned about the political damage Bennett sustained after his alliance with Yair Lapid in the previous election cycle.

With the deadline for party list submissions just four days away, Eizenkot's associates aim to create the impression of a large, unified party to challenge Avigdor Lieberman. However, the memory of Bennett's political struggles following his partnership with Lapid has led to caution, with an assessment that a combined force might not be as strong as the sum of its parts. A final decision is expected at the last minute.

These developments are impacting other political players. If Chili Tropper decides to join Eizenkot, Yoaz Hendel might also be reconsidered for the list. Meanwhile, the Blue and White party insists it will run independently and is working to absorb unaligned politicians.

Simultaneously, Yesh Atid is experiencing internal turmoil, with MK Michal Shir announcing her departure from the party's Knesset list, marking the eighth such resignation in this election cycle. This follows departures by other senior figures like Meir Cohen, Mickey Levy, and Karin Elharrar. Political analysts describe the situation as a collapse, attributing it to the fact that Bennett's previous alliance with Yesh Atid left only a few viable spots on the list, forcing veteran lawmakers to seek honorable exits.

In a separate development, former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who has been courted by several parties, reportedly rejected an offer for a reserved spot on the Likud party's list. Kahlon is not expected to return to politics in this election cycle, opting instead to wait for future developments.