Israeli Election Campaign Heats Up With Internal Bloc Squabbles

With less than three weeks until the Knesset elections, political infighting is intensifying, even within the major blocs. A dispute has erupted on the right between Shas and Otzma Yehudit over the arrest of yeshiva students, while Yoaz Hendel is attempting to draw Ofer Winter into a new political alliance. Meanwhile, cracks are appearing in the left-wing bloc's agreements.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of Shas, sharply criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accusing him of being responsible for the arrest of yeshiva students. Rabbi Yosef alleged that Ben-Gvir aims to incite unrest among the Haredi public to gain votes at the expense of the Haredi parties. He also condemned Ben-Gvir's ascent to the Temple Mount, calling it a desecration. Ben-Gvir responded by attacking Shas, accusing them of staging a "cynical political maneuver" to distract from their perceived failures.

Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists Party, is working to form a separate political bloc and urged Ofer Winter to reconsider his commitment to joining a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Haredi parties. Hendel proposed signing a surplus agreement with Winter, stating their intention to join only a "Zionist government" without Haredi or Arab parties. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, was heard in a leaked recording expressing skepticism about Winter's future actions, suggesting he would "do the math" after the elections.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against voting for parties that might not pass the electoral threshold or could join the opposing bloc after the elections, urging supporters not to waste votes.

Within the left-wing bloc, tensions are also rising despite an agreement to avoid mutual attacks. A leaked recording features Knesset Member Meirav Ben-Ari of Naftali Bennett's party questioning the candidates on Gadi Eisenkot's list, suggesting a preference for Bennett and casting doubt on the reliability of Eisenkot's running mates. These statements emerge as bloc leaders seek to project unity ahead of the elections, highlighting internal power struggles within both major political camps as each party tries to maximize its electoral strength.