Netanyahu Warns Against Votes That Could Harm Right-Wing Bloc

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alluded to a potential threat to the right-wing bloc during a Likud party event, cautioning voters against supporting parties that might not pass the electoral threshold or could divert votes to Avigdor Lieberman's party, thereby weakening the right. Speaking at the Likud's holiday gathering, Netanyahu framed the upcoming election as a stark choice between the right and the left, urging attendees to choose the "fight" over "surrender."

He specifically criticized the "Yashar" party and its leader Gadi Eisenkot, calling the party a "bluff." Netanyahu reiterated his warning about wasted votes within the right-wing camp, implicitly referencing Ofer Winter and his "Amcha Yisrael" party. He stated that voting for a party that fails to clear the minimum vote threshold or shifts votes to Lieberman would ultimately "bring down the right-wing bloc."

Netanyahu also drew strength from the memory of his brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, who fell in the Entebbe raid, vowing to ensure Israel's victory and emphasizing a commitment to fighting rather than conceding. He asserted that the election is about choosing between right and left, and that the right is for the benefit of all of Israel.

Reflecting on regional dynamics, Netanyahu highlighted his government's impact on the Middle East, citing the eliminations of figures like Hassan Nasrallah, Ali Khamenei, and Ismail Haniyeh as examples of his administration's actions. He concluded by setting a goal to overthrow the Iranian regime, stating, "We must complete the mission to the end."

In response to Netanyahu's remarks, the "Amcha Yisrael" party stated, "The first part is incorrect and the second part will not happen."