Netanyahu Secures Right-Wing Votes as Achi Party Withdraws
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a political win as the Achi Party, led by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Abirgil, withdrew from the upcoming Knesset elections and endorsed the Likud. The decision followed intense pressure and negotiations involving Netanyahu and Minister of Education Yoav Kisch. The withdrawal is seen as preventing the loss of right-wing votes, as Achi was not expected to pass the electoral threshold. This move is part of a trend of smaller parties consolidating ahead of the elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Achi Party withdrew from the Knesset elections, endorsing Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud.
- The decision followed direct negotiations involving Netanyahu and Minister of Education Yoav Kisch.
- Achi's withdrawal aims to prevent the loss of right-wing votes, as the party was unlikely to pass the threshold.
- The party's leadership cited significant gains achieved through the negotiations.
- This move is part of a broader trend of smaller parties consolidating before the elections.
Days before the 26th Knesset elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has achieved another political success within the right-wing bloc. The Achi Party, led by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Abirgil (HaChida), officially announced its withdrawal from the elections on Friday, instructing its supporters to vote for the Likud party. This move followed intense pressure from the Likud party.
Netanyahu himself participated in a Zoom call with Rabbi Abirgil, while Minister of Education Yoav Kisch led the practical negotiations. A crucial meeting held in Netivot on Friday included Kisch, Rabbi Abirgil, First Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Netivot Mayor Yechiel Zohar, Ofakim Mayor Itzik Danino, and attorney Lior Ketzab. Deputy Minister Almog Cohen also met with the Rabbi the previous evening.
The Ministry of Education stated that Minister Kisch, at the Prime Minister's request, negotiated with the Achi movement. It was agreed that the movement's key issues would be advanced by the Likud. This development is seen as preventing the loss of tens of thousands of votes for the right-wing bloc.
An Achi Party source told "Kikar HaShabat" that they achieved significant gains they hadn't dreamed of if they had run to the end. However, the specifics of the understandings and promises remain undisclosed, and some party list candidates only learned of the decision through media reports.
The Achi Party, originating from the followers of the late Rabbi Yoram Abirgil in Netivot and the South, was considered a small party that might have drawn votes primarily from Shas in peripheral areas. Polls indicated it would not pass the electoral threshold, making its withdrawal another success for Netanyahu in his effort to prevent vote wastage on the right. Notably, two weeks prior, Rabbi Tzemach Mazoze, head of the 'Kiseh Rachamim' Yeshiva, publicly urged Rabbi Abirgil to withdraw and unite with Shas.
This decision follows a series of withdrawals by small lists on both the right and left, highlighting the close race as election day approaches. Last week, Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz also announced his withdrawal from the race, and the Central Elections Committee ordered the removal of 'Yes' ballots from polling stations.
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