Israeli Politics Sees Key Alliances Formed Ahead of Election Deadline

By אמיר אטינגר, יובל קרני

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

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Hili Tropper will join Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party in sixth place, while Yoaz Hendel has formed an alliance with economist Yaron Zelekha to run together. These political realignments occur just days before the election candidate list deadline.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Hili Tropper joins Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party at sixth position.
Yoaz Hendel and Professor Yaron Zelekha will run on a joint list.
The alliances are formed days before the election candidate list deadline.
Hendel aims to form a government excluding religious and Arab parties.
Tropper's move was a key point of contention in the opposition bloc.

In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections, Hili Tropper has agreed to join Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party, securing the sixth spot on the list. Shira Shapira, who is aligned with Tropper, will be placed tenth. This alliance marks a consolidation within the "change bloc" and comes after a period of negotiation, with Tropper reportedly having the first choice of ministry if Eisenkot forms a government. The agreement is not a technical bloc, meaning Tropper cannot split the faction after the election.

Meanwhile, Yoaz Hendel, who previously led the "Dror Israel" party with Tropper, has finalized a joint run with economist Professor Yaron Zelekha. Hendel had previously stated he would not join Eisenkot. Zelekha, who has run for the Knesset twice before without crossing the electoral threshold, described the union with Hendel as "technical," emphasizing that both parties will remain independent. He stated, "We are both in first place, two heads of two independent parties, two combined forces running together, shoulder to shoulder."

Hendel pledged to "run until the end" with Zelekha, despite potential challenges with the electoral threshold. He explained that their union is based on shared core issues: military service and the burden of duty from Hendel's party, and the fight against the high cost of living from Zelekha's platform. Hendel also expressed personal sadness over Tropper's decision to join Eisenkot but respected his choice, stating their friendship remains intact. He indicated their joint list aims to offer a "strong alternative in the third bloc," seeking to form a government without ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties.

The agreements come just two days before the deadline for submitting candidate lists to the Knesset, amid concerns among smaller parties about vote splitting and failing to pass the electoral threshold. The move also follows a period of intense competition for Tropper's allegiance within the opposition, highlighting the strategic importance of consolidating forces.

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