Israeli Parties Finalize Knesset Lists Ahead of Crucial Deadline

With less than 24 hours remaining until the deadline for submitting Knesset candidate lists for the 26th Knesset elections, Israeli political parties are engaged in intense final negotiations and strategic moves. The Central Elections Committee will close its doors at 10:00 PM on September 8, solidifying the electoral map for the October 27 election day.

Key developments include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expected use of reserved spots in the Likud list for last-minute appointments, aimed at consolidating support on the right and preventing vote wastage. The Likud is also officially removing veteran MKs Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, with a demand for Edelstein to vacate his seat. Meanwhile, Tali Gottlieb, who secured a high spot in the Likud primaries, has moved to the Otzma Yehudit party, bolstering Itamar Ben-Gvir's list. Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party will run separately.

In a significant move, Smotrich has finalized an alliance with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party, aiming to strengthen their position above the electoral threshold. However, Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism face competition from Ofer Winter's independent "Am Israel" list, which Winter insists will run alone, rejecting "deals and seat-seeking" and emphasizing integrity and ideology. Winter's list, polling around 4-5 seats, faces a risk of falling below the 3.25% electoral threshold.

On the center-left, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and current Foreign Minister Yair Lapid have formed a joint "Achva" (Together) list, with Bennett at the helm and Lapid second. This alliance positions them for a direct contest against Benny Gantz's party and Gadi Eisenkot's list. In a shake-up, MK Chili Tropper has left Yoaz Hendel's "Derech Eretz" party to join Gadi Eisenkot, a move that significantly challenges Hendel's party's prospects of crossing the electoral threshold. Hendel and Yaron Zelekha have since announced their own joint run.

Benny Gantz's Blue and White party faces a critical decision as polls show it struggling to pass the electoral threshold. The failure of previous attempts to form a "third bloc" and Tropper's departure leave Gantz with a difficult choice between running independently, risking wasted votes, or potentially withdrawing. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party remains stable in polls and has finalized its list without joining Eisenkot. In the Arab sector, the Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad parties have completed their union, while Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, will run separately, notably including former Yesh Atid figure Yoav Seglovitz in a bid to broaden its appeal.

Internal shifts are also occurring within the Haredi parties. In Degel HaTorah, Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev will not be included in the upcoming list as part of a renewal process, with Yaakov Asher expected to lead. Agudat Yisrael faces an internal power struggle within the Gur Hasidic dynasty, as Yitzhak Goldknopf seeks to reduce the influence of political operative Moti Bapchik. Shas is still finalizing its list, with ministers Moshe Arbel and Yaakov Margi not expected to run.