Israeli Parties Finalize Knesset Slates Amidst Major Shakeups

Israel's Central Elections Committee closed its doors Tuesday evening, marking the deadline for parties to submit their candidate lists for the 26th Knesset. The final hours saw significant political maneuvering and surprising developments across the spectrum.

On the left, the joint list of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid was submitted, reportedly blocking potential mergers among centrist and left-wing parties. This list includes new additions, such as Bennett's "CEO team," pushing experienced "Yesh Atid" lawmakers like Ram Ben Barak to lower positions. On the right, Ofer Winter's "Am Yisrael" party also submitted its list, preventing potential right-wing alliances.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised many with his Likud list, incorporating high-profile appointments like Talik Guili and Yaakov Bardugo. However, this also resulted in veteran ministers like May Golan and Idit Silman being relegated to non-viable spots on the list, far down from their previous positions.

In a dramatic turn for the Haredi party "United Torah Judaism," key figures Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev were reportedly ousted, leading to a potential split within the faction. Meanwhile, the Shas party submitted its list without major surprises, emphasizing its commitment to religious and Jewish identity.

Unusual incidents also marked the registration period. The "Biblical Bloc" party presented a candidate list that included an individual who had already passed away. Other fringe parties, like the "Pirates," also submitted their candidacies.