Likud Forms Team to Recruit Defectors From Gadi Eisenkot's Party

With the elections two and a half weeks away, the Likud party has established a special team tasked with identifying potential defectors from Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party, aiming to bring them into the right-wing bloc after the vote. The team, composed of Likud Knesset members and strategic advisors, is reportedly examining the backgrounds of "Yashar!" candidates, with a particular focus on those with right-wing affiliations or from right-wing circles. This strategy draws on past successes, such as the defections of Amihai Chikli and Idit Silman from Naftali Bennett's party, which Likud was instrumental in facilitating. The current effort involves a larger number of personnel and has developed new tactics for applying pressure on potential recruits post-election. The team is conducting background checks, scrutinizing past statements, and assessing the personal and broader networks of "Yashar!" candidates, including their consultations with rabbis and other influential figures. The intention is to leverage this information after the elections to exert pressure, particularly on policy and security matters, and potentially offer political incentives for switching allegiance. Chikli and Silman are cited as prominent examples, having received prominent positions within Likud and government roles after their previous moves. Chikli has maintained and improved his standing, while Silman, formerly the Minister of Environmental Protection, did not fare as well in recent primaries. "Yashar!" is aware of these potential recruitment efforts, and the candidate selection process has reportedly included measures to prevent defections, though party officials have denied reports that candidates were required to sign pledges against leaving.