Netanyahu's Last-Minute Recruitment Drive for Likud Falters

In a dramatic eleventh-hour effort before the Knesset list deadline, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party attempted to recruit high-profile public figures to bolster its appeal to the right-wing base. Efforts were made to enlist Olympic judo medalist Oren Smadja and television presenter Neteli Shem Tov, alongside previously reported attempts to secure Joseph Haddad. However, these attempts ultimately failed to materialize as desired by Likud.

Smadja chose to join Gilad Erdan's list, which subsequently collapsed. Shem Tov and Haddad opted to join the new political movement led by Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, named "Amcha Israel." This outcome has intensified the rivalry between Likud and Winter's party, with Winter's faction vowing to retaliate against Likud's sharp attacks, stating they "are not suckers" and will not remain silent.

Winter's "Amcha Israel" party, positioning itself as a fresh force outside the political establishment since October 7th, is reportedly polling at or above the electoral threshold, causing significant pressure within the Likud campaign headquarters. This political tension arises shortly after the official list submissions, coinciding with a recent poll from Kan 11 and Kantar that showed a tight race, with Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party leading with 24 mandates, followed by Likud with 21. Other parties like Naftali Bennett's "Yachad" (12 mandates), Democrats (9), and United Torah Judaism (8) also featured, with Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, Otzma Yehudit, and the Joint List each receiving 7 mandates. Ra'am and Religious Zionism were polling at 5 mandates each.

The poll indicated that Winter's "Amcha Israel" and the party of Hendel and Zelicha would both pass the electoral threshold with 4 mandates, explaining Likud's perception of Winter as an immediate and significant threat.