New Right-Wing Parties Threaten Netanyahu's Bloc
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Two new right-wing parties, Am Ech Israel and Miloimnikim Ve'Kalkala, are siphoning votes from Netanyahu's Likud bloc, potentially costing him 7-8 seats. These parties are attracting voters who feel unrepresented by existing right-wing factions, particularly on issues like judicial reform and Haredi draft. Netanyahu is reportedly concerned about these new parties, viewing one as a potential defector to the opposition. The movement of votes is primarily away from Netanyahu's bloc, intensifying competition within the right-wing camp.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- New right-wing parties are drawing votes that could otherwise go to Netanyahu's bloc, potentially costing him 7-8 seats.
- The opposition bloc's polling numbers have dropped significantly since the launch of the new parties.
- Netanyahu reportedly views one of the new parties as a potential defector to the opposition.
- A substantial portion of past Likud and Religious Zionism-Otzma Yehudit voters feel unrepresented by current parties.
- Vote movement is predominantly away from Netanyahu's bloc, intensifying competition within the right-wing camp.
- Key voter concerns include judicial reform, Haredi draft, and avoiding a government reliant on Arab parties.
Two new right-wing parties, Am Ech Israel led by Ofer Winter and Miloimnikim Ve'Kalkala led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelicha, are drawing significant support that could otherwise go to Netanyahu's Likud bloc. These new parties together garnered an average of 6.5 seats in September polls, a number that fell to 4.3 seats in October. Netanyahu himself reportedly views Winter's party as "Bennett 2.0," believing Winter would eventually join the opposing bloc, though the article suggests this might be a deliberate tactic. The campaign against Winter's party, including Winter's own provocative statements, risks alienating voters. Polls indicate that a substantial portion of past Likud and Religious Zionism-Otzma Yehudit voters feel unrepresented by current parties, suggesting a pool of mobile voters. While the number of undecided voters has decreased, partly due to the new parties, the movement of votes is predominantly away from Netanyahu's bloc. The article highlights that the majority of the public identifies as right-wing, and the competition for these votes is concentrated within the right. New parties are attracting a notable percentage of voters from the Likud and Religious Zionism-Otzma Yehudit, with right-wing and center-right voters showing a preference for issues like equal draft laws for Haredim, judicial reform reconsideration, and firm action against Jewish settlers' violence against Palestinians. A key concern for these voters is avoiding a government that relies on Arab parties. The article also notes a shift among traditional right-wing voters, with some moving away from Likud and Otzma Yehudit towards center-right parties, while others remain with the established right-wing factions.
Mentioned
