Netanyahu and Eisenkot Agree: Smaller Parties Will Pay the Price
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot reportedly agree on a strategy to keep potential coalition partners small, aiming to prevent parties like Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit from gaining too much influence. Netanyahu plans to actively counter Otzma Yehudit's campaign and limit its electoral success. Meanwhile, Shas is focusing on retaining its base, and Religious Zionism is adapting to new election day tracking restrictions. Ofer Winter's party claims Netanyahu is specifically trying to weaken right-wing parties that could challenge him.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot reportedly agree on limiting the size of potential coalition partners.
- Netanyahu plans to counter Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party to prevent it from gaining too many mandates.
- Shas is shifting its focus to consolidating its existing support base rather than expanding.
- Religious Zionism is adapting to new restrictions on election day voter tracking applications.
- Ofer Winter's party claims Netanyahu is actively working to suppress right-wing parties.
- Netanyahu prefers predictable and controllable coalition partners over political risks.
With two weeks remaining until the elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, a partner in the 'Change Bloc,' have reportedly reached a consensus: they prefer smaller, more manageable coalition partners. Netanyahu is particularly focused on curbing the growth of Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, aiming to prevent a coalition partner with a large number of mandates who might demand significant influence. The Likud party plans to counter Otzma Yehudit's campaign, which has included statements suggesting Netanyahu would sit with Eisenkot, by issuing strong condemnations against Ben-Gvir and his party. Netanyahu's strategy is to keep Otzma Yehudit at around five mandates, viewing a larger party as harder to control.
Eisenkot, despite being perceived by some as a political novice, understands this dynamic and is operating similarly, with his partners confident he will be ready for the post-election period. Netanyahu also intends to work to diminish the influence of new parties led by Ofer Winter and Zelicha, not because he opposes reaching 61 mandates for his bloc, but to preemptively remove potential future challenges. He anticipates that Winter and Zelicha would be difficult coalition partners with potentially large demands.
Meanwhile, Shas is shifting its focus to consolidating its existing support base rather than expanding, employing emotional campaigns targeting traditional voters and emphasizing Jewish identity. The party aims to deter voters from choosing the 'Change Bloc' by highlighting potential negative consequences. The Religious Zionism party is concentrating on overcoming a decision by the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, to limit the use of tracking applications on election day, which are crucial for mobilizing voters.
Ofer Winter's party, Am Israel, claims Netanyahu is actively trying to suppress right-wing parties, not out of fear of wasted votes, but to prevent a strong party that could challenge his leadership. The article suggests that Netanyahu prefers predictable and controllable partners over political risks, a sentiment echoed in both blocs as they navigate the final weeks before the election.
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