V26 Campaign Expands Leadership Ahead of Elections

Elchanan Galat, CEO of the Bnei Akiva Yeshivot and Ulpanot Center, and Yanki Friedman, CEO of the Noam-Tzvia Education Network, have joined the leadership of the V26 campaign, an initiative aimed at increasing voter turnout within the national camp. The campaign was re-established about six weeks ago by Yossi Dagan, Head of the Shomron Regional Council, along with Yaakov Weinberg and Yoni Israeli, leaders of "My Likud," the largest settlement group within the Likud party.

The V26 campaign is a new iteration of the V22 campaign, which Dagan founded for the 2022 elections. Its name is a nod to the V15 campaign launched by left-wing activists in 2015. In previous elections, the V22 campaign mobilized thousands of volunteers nationwide to encourage right-wing voters to cast their ballots. The current expansion seeks to build a larger, more organized system in coordination with additional right-wing organizations to help achieve a bloc of over 61 Knesset seats.

Galat stated that joining Dagan in establishing V26 is a great honor, recalling their previous collaboration on a non-partisan initiative that engaged thousands of young and adult volunteers to boost right-wing voter turnout. He emphasized the urgency and duty to assist in the democratic process for Israel's future.

Friedman added that his joining the effort is part of strengthening the "right-wing pillar" and the "faith-based force" ahead of the crucial elections. Dagan stressed that the election outcome hinges on voter turnout, noting that past victories were narrow despite high national turnout. He highlighted that low turnout in strongholds of the national camp nearly reversed election results, a situation that must be avoided again.

Dagan asserted that the majority of Israelis are nationalistic, traditional, and support strengthening settlements and the values of the national camp. However, he pointed out that hundreds of thousands of potential supporters do not vote, leading to their views not being represented in the government. He cited the Shomron Regional Council's success in achieving high voter turnout as proof that similar results are achievable in other right-wing areas. Dagan concluded that mobilizing these voters is key to victory, ensuring a right-wing government that will protect Judea and Samaria, the Negev, and Israel's Jewish character, potentially enabling sovereignty and the regularization of young settlements.