Netanyahu Aims to Poach MKs from Eisenkot's Party
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Ahead of Likud's internal elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formed a special team to recruit Knesset members from Gadi Eisenkot's Yisrael Beiteinu party. The team will focus on right-wing, religious candidates and aims to secure defections after the upcoming elections. Netanyahu reportedly believes the right-wing bloc will win enough seats to form a government, potentially with the help of these new recruits.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A special team was formed by the Likud party to recruit Knesset members from Gadi Eisenkot's Yisrael Beiteinu.
- The team consists of Likud MKs and strategic advisors focused on post-election bloc switching.
- The strategy aims to pressure new, right-wing, religious candidates from Eisenkot's party.
- Previous reports of candidates pledging not to defect were denied by senior officials.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu believes the right-wing bloc will win 59-60 seats.
- Netanyahu anticipates forming a government with potential support from defecting MKs.
With two and a half weeks remaining until the Likud party's internal elections, a special team has been established with the objective of persuading Knesset members from Gadi Eisenkot's Yisrael Beiteinu party to switch blocs. The team, comprising Likud MKs and strategic advisors, is tasked with facilitating the transfer of lawmakers between political blocs immediately following the elections. This strategy mirrors a previous effort where figures like Amichai Chikli and Idit Silman moved to the Likud bloc from Naftali Bennett's party.
The Likud's approach this time is more refined. The newly formed team is meticulously examining the backgrounds of potential candidates from Eisenkot's party, focusing on those with right-wing, religious affiliations. They are investigating their personal circles, influential figures in their lives, and any rabbinical connections, all to identify leverage points for pressure after the elections.
Recent reports indicated that candidates were required to pledge not to defect, but senior party officials have denied these claims. Legally, any such loyalty pledges hold no real weight beyond a declarative statement. Meanwhile, in closed discussions among Likud leaders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly estimates that the right-wing bloc will secure 59-60 seats, giving him the ability to form a government if one or two additional seats are gained through defections.
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