Israeli Ministers React to Election Polls Showing Coalition Shortfall
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Minister Miki Zohar responded to election polls showing the current coalition may not achieve a majority. Sa'ar urged caution against premature conclusions and highlighted Likud as the largest party. Zohar warned opposition leaders against forming a government with Arab parties, predicting political ruin. Polls suggest the coalition could fall short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli election polls indicate the current coalition may not secure a 61-seat majority.
- Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar cautioned against premature conclusions from election polls.
- Minister Miki Zohar warned opposition leaders against forming a government with Arab parties.
- Polls show Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party projected to win 25 seats.
- The current coalition parties are estimated to receive only 50 seats in preliminary polls.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Minister Miki Zohar reacted Tuesday to preliminary election polls for the 26th Knesset, which indicate that the current coalition parties will not secure a majority of 61 seats. Sa'ar cautioned against drawing premature conclusions and criticized commentators, while Zohar issued a stark warning to leaders of parties opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the possibility of forming a government with Arab parties.
"The celebrations on the left are premature. The certainty of the biased commentators is ridiculous," Sa'ar wrote on his X account, in one of the first responses from a senior coalition member after the polls were released. He emphasized the Likud party's standing in the projected results, stating, "One thing seems quite clear: Likud is the largest party in Israel." He concluded his statement by referencing the past, adding, "It's always good to learn something from history," and included archival footage from the 1977 election broadcast.
Minister Miki Zohar followed with a strong reaction, addressing the potential for Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett to form a government in cooperation with Arab parties. "If Eisenkot, Lieberman, and Bennett try to form a government with the Arab parties, it will be their political end in a very short time. The public will not forgive or forget," Zohar declared.
While Sa'ar focused on criticizing the reactions to the polls and highlighting Likud's position, Zohar directly addressed the possibility of political cooperation between the three figures and Arab parties, warning of the consequences for their political futures.
These reactions come in light of the emerging seat distribution. According to a Channel 13 poll, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to win 25 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's party is expected to receive 23 seats. Another party is projected to win 14 seats. In terms of blocs, the current coalition parties are estimated to receive only 50 seats, compared to 53 for opposition parties and 17 for Arab parties.
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