Israeli Campaign Strategists Reveal Last-Minute Election Tactics

Senior Israeli political strategists have shared insights into the tactics employed in the final 72 hours of election campaigns, focusing on controlling public discourse and leveraging unexpected events. They discussed how to maintain momentum, manage public perception, and appeal to undecided voters, particularly in the critical closing days.

Tal Alexandrovich, a strategic advisor, recalled the 2019 election campaign where a leak about Benny Gantz's phone being hacked significantly impacted his bid against Benjamin Netanyahu. She emphasized the need for constant activity and new developments throughout a campaign to keep it dynamic and forward-moving. Alexandrovich noted that even strong candidates like Gadi Eisenkot can face setbacks, highlighting the unpredictable nature of political races.

Moshe Debby, another strategic advisor, explained that controlling the public agenda is paramount, especially when voters are already familiar with the candidates. He suggested that the "change bloc" could leverage the October 7th attacks and the issue of draft evasion by Haredi men to sway soft-right voters. Debby stressed that influencing a relatively small group of undecided voters often requires emotional appeals rather than rational ones, with the final three days being the most decisive for shifting votes.

Debby also elaborated on how campaigns can engineer events to dominate news cycles. He posited that Prime Minister Netanyahu might seek security-related incidents to control the narrative, while the opposition must proactively disrupt such efforts. He cited Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot as examples of opposition figures who successfully set the public agenda through their public statements and attacks.

Alexandrovich further detailed the 2019 campaign for Benny Gantz's "Blue and White" party, explaining the strategy to build his image as a respected former IDF Chief of Staff entering politics to bring change. She described the meticulous planning of his initial speech and the eventual, last-minute unification with other leaders, which propelled the party to 35 seats, though they ultimately did not form a government.

Nili Reichman, who managed campaigns for the "Pensioners Party" in 2006 and Yair Lapid in 2013, shared her experiences. For the Pensioners Party, the strategy focused on presenting them as a "cool, refreshing" alternative amidst a leadership vacuum, resonating with younger voters and achieving unexpected success. For Lapid's campaign, she highlighted the challenge of overcoming media skepticism and leveraging key messages about the middle class and financial accountability to achieve significant gains.