Israeli Politicians Intensify Campaigning Ahead of Crucial Elections

With less than two weeks until what are described as "crucial" elections, Israeli politicians are making a final push to engage voters, with efforts focusing on grassroots campaigning.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a mall in Yokneam as part of his ongoing tour, while Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, held a special conference for the religious public and organized a large screen facing Channel 14 studios in an effort to sway voters between blocs. Candidates are also holding smaller, more intimate gatherings and house parties to equip supporters with messages to convince their friends.

During one such event in Ramat Ef'al, MK Meirav Cohen of the Together party discussed her party's education plan with about 30 attendees, most of whom already support the opposition. The conversation touched on the perceived teacher shortage and the political challenges of forming a coalition, with Cohen referencing past governments formed without ultra-Orthodox parties. Attendees expressed concern about reaching the 61-seat majority needed to form a government, and Ramat Gan Deputy Mayor Assaf Weiss emphasized the importance of high voter turnout, particularly in liberal cities, citing that one in four did not vote in the previous election.

In Jerusalem, about 100 senior citizens attended a special conference for the Democrats for Senior Citizens party, featuring a panel with retired Major General Nimrod Sheffer and other public figures. The discussion focused on the need for change and the critical nature of the upcoming elections. One attendee, 80-year-old Yosef Avi Yair Engel, whose grandson was kidnapped to Gaza on October 7th, expressed his deep concern and deliberation between the Democrats and Yisrael Beiteinu.

Meanwhile, in Netanya, the Otzma Yehudit party held a conference for French speakers, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir addressing the crowd. Ben-Gvir spoke about his policies regarding terrorists in prisons, drawing a strong reaction from the audience. Attendees expressed their desire for him to be part of the next government, emphasizing the need for a strong right-wing government.

The Am Israel party, led by Ofer Winter, is struggling to gain traction, with Winter and his party members expressing loyalty to Netanyahu while also criticizing him, which has reportedly impacted their standing in polls. In Haifa, spokesperson Haddad declared his intention to become the Minister of Public Diplomacy and stated that Qatar would be declared an enemy state due to its perceived failures in public diplomacy. However, some attendees expressed reservations about the party's viability and its decision not to join forces with the Likud party earlier.

In Givat Shmuel, Yisrael Beiteinu held a conference for religious Zionists, positioning itself as an alternative to other religious parties. Gadi Eisenkot addressed the audience, criticizing the government's handling of the October 7th events and stating he would not sit with Netanyahu due to his responsibility for the failures. The event also included a response to Channel 14 commentators who had previously referred to Eisenkot with a derogatory term.