Likud-Religious Zionism Surplus Vote Deal Remains Unsigned Amid Political Maneuvering

A week after reaching an agreement on a surplus vote sharing deal, the Likud and the Religious Zionism parties have yet to formally sign the accord. Both parties attribute the delay to purely technical reasons, but political analysts suggest the hold-up might be intentional. It is believed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is keeping his options open regarding a potential deal with Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party, allowing himself strategic flexibility.

This situation arises after initial expectations that Likud would partner with "Am Israel" and Religious Zionism with Otzma Yehudit were reversed. The current arrangement leaves both "Am Israel" and Otzma Yehudit without signed surplus vote agreements. Reports indicate that Likud's initial strategy may have involved campaigning against Winter's party to weaken it and push it below the electoral threshold.

With the deadline for finalizing candidate lists for the Central Elections Committee having passed, the unsigned deal between Likud and Religious Zionism is raising questions. One theory posits that Netanyahu is delaying the finalization to assess his standing in the polls and the broader election landscape before committing fully. However, Likud and Religious Zionism maintain that the agreement is settled and the signing is a mere formality that could occur at any moment, with the delay being solely technical.

Meanwhile, Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of Otzma Yehudit, is reportedly still considering whether to sign a surplus vote agreement with Winter's "Am Israel" party, adding another layer of complexity to the electoral alliances.