Israel's political system is focused on possible mergers among small parties and candidates hovering near the electoral threshold, because such alliances could determine who forms the next government. The names being discussed include Benny Gantz, Dadi Shchami, Yoaz Hendel, Gilad Erdan, Chili Tropper and Yaron Zelekha. A new survey by Dudi Hassid and the Kantar Institute, published in Israel Hayom, shows that these combinations are worth several seats and may become the decisive move in the election, especially since most polls show no bloc reaching 61 seats without Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties.
One scenario tested a joint list of Gilad Erdan, Yoaz Hendel and the reservists, and found it would win 7 seats. Another scenario, combining Yoaz Hendel and the reservists with Chili Tropper and the Fourth Quarter party, came out at 5 seats. A union of Benny Gantz, Dadi Shchami and Yaron Zelekha was projected to win 6 seats. Most of these contenders say they want a Zionist unity government and insist they will not be the ones to give Benjamin Netanyahu the 61st vote needed to form a government.
At the same time, the survey gave Lt. Col. Ofer Winter a strong result of 5 seats, and he could be the figure who solves Netanyahu's problem. Winter has recently begun holding house meetings across the country after more than 10,000 people signed his so-called "Decision Petition." The effort is meant to give him a public platform to present his security views as he considers his next political steps.
Winter launched the petition about two and a half weeks ago to pressure the political leadership and the heads of the security establishment into a fundamental change in the current military strategy in Lebanon and Gaza. In the petition, he laid out his security doctrine and called for an immediate shift from repeated "rounds" and reactive policy to an offensive initiative.
