New Political Alliance Emerges, Worrying Netanyahu and Eisenkot

As Israel's election campaign intensifies, a potential new political alliance is reportedly forming behind the scenes between Avigdor Lieberman, Ofir Winter, and Naftali Bennett. This collaboration, discussed cautiously in political circles, could significantly alter the landscape of future coalition building, causing concern for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot. Netanyahu, meanwhile, is bolstering his Likud party's list by including figures from security forces, reservists, families of fallen soldiers, and proponents of judicial reform. New additions to the Likud include IDF veteran Elisha Medan, Talit Gvili (mother of a fallen soldier), Itzik Bunzel (father of a fallen soldier), and attorneys Yaakov Bardugo and David Peter, alongside former Brigadier General Amir Avivi, known for his hardline security stance. The author suggests Netanyahu's strategy aims to appeal to security-focused voters, connect with bereaved families, and strengthen the right wing. A perceived misstep by Netanyahu, according to the article, was the decision of forces associated with Ofir Winter, such as Yosef Haddad and TV host Netel Shem-Tov, to form a separate political entity rather than join Likud. This new force aims to present itself as independent of traditional parties, potentially attracting voters seeking political novelty, though it is not expected to win a significant number of seats. The article posits that if Lieberman, Winter, and Bennett coordinate effectively, they could wield considerable influence post-election, impacting both seat distribution and government formation. Such a bloc could create a new center of power, complicating the traditional political divide and forcing major parties to reassess their strategies. While still a speculative scenario, the article emphasizes that significant political alliances in Israel often begin forming long before public announcements, making this potential convergence a key intrigue of the upcoming campaign and a future challenge for Netanyahu and Eisenkot.