High School Election Simulation Predicts Gadi Eisenkot's Party Victory

Students at Blich High School in Ramat Gan held their traditional mock election on Thursday, an event that has accurately predicted significant political shifts in Israel since 1969. This year, the "Yashr!" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, emerged victorious, securing 32.2% of the student vote. Other notable results included "Beitech" led by Naftali Bennett with 22.4%, the Likud party with 15.5%, Otzma Yehudit at 9.4%, and HaDemocratim with 7.1%. Several parties, including Israel Beiteinu, Am Israel Chai, HaMiluimnikim-Kalkalit, HaTzionut HaDatit, and Blue and White, failed to pass the school's electoral threshold.

Despite most student voters not yet being of voting age, the mock election holds considerable importance for the participating parties. Throughout the week leading up to the vote, senior figures from various political parties visited the school to address the students. This year's event was not without controversy, including an incident where cups were thrown at MK Merav Ben Ari after she criticized Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The invitation of MK Simcha Rothman to speak at the school also sparked public debate online.

The Blich mock election has a history of accurately forecasting national outcomes, notably predicting the Likud's victory in 1977 and Yitzhak Rabin's win with the Labor party in 1992.