Netanyahu's Security Focus and Eisenkot's Campaign Error Aid PM, Analyst Says
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former advisor Moshe Klughaft stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu effectively uses national security to unite his base, while the opposition fails to focus on the Haredi conscription issue, a key weakness for Netanyahu. Despite trailing in polls, Netanyahu's campaign narrative about a government with Arab parties deters voters from switching allegiance. Klughaft criticized Gadi Eisenkot's campaign strategy for focusing on a minority government, suggesting an "obsession" with conscription would have been more effective.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu's campaign effectively uses security issues to unite his political base, according to former advisor Moshe Klughaft.
- The opposition's failure to focus on Haredi conscription is a key weakness for Netanyahu, Klughaft noted.
- Netanyahu is consistently trailing in polls for prime minister suitability, an unprecedented trend since 2009.
- Netanyahu's campaign narrative about a government with Arab parties deters voters from switching allegiance.
- Gadi Eisenkot's campaign for a minority government was a strategic error, Klughaft stated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign strategy effectively leverages national security and the October 7th events to unite his bloc, according to Moshe Klughaft, a former advisor to Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett. Klughaft explained on 103FM radio that while Netanyahu is willing to discuss war and the events of October 7th, this focus solidifies his political base, making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. He noted that issues like the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men are a weakness for Netanyahu, citing the arrest of a Chabad follower as an example that divided his bloc and forced Netanyahu to contradict himself.
Klughaft characterized Netanyahu as a "walking message board" with precise terminology, particularly regarding the exemption of students from military service. He framed the current election as a tug-of-war between "eliminating terrorists" and "conscripting the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox)," suggesting the outcome depends on who champions their cause more forcefully. The analyst also highlighted an unusual trend: Netanyahu is consistently trailing in polls for suitability as prime minister, a phenomenon he described as unprecedented since 2009, citing past candidates like Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak, and Benny Gantz.
Despite the polling deficit, Klughaft argued that this does not significantly impact voting patterns. He attributed this to Netanyahu's campaign, which he described as "boring and repetitive" but effective in convincing voters that a government with Arab parties would be formed. While many Israelis express a desire for Gadi Eisenkot, they are hesitant to switch allegiance to the "change bloc" parties because Netanyahu has successfully framed the alternative as a government involving Arab parties. Klughaft concluded that Eisenkot made a significant error by campaigning for a minority government, playing to his weakness. He suggested that just as Netanyahu is "obsessed" with the issue of Arab representation, the opposition should have been equally "obsessed" with the conscription issue, rather than waiting for events like the Chabad arrests.
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