Likud Candidate Predicts Defections From Left Bloc to Form Stable Government
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Likud candidate Yaakov Bardugo predicted that defectors from the left-wing bloc would enable the formation of a stable government, asserting public support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership post-October 7th. He argued that the public views Netanyahu as incorruptible and essential for security restoration, while deeming reliance on Arab parties unviable. Bardugo suggested moral considerations would drive these defections, leading to a stable coalition.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud candidate Yaakov Bardugo predicts defectors from the left bloc will form a stable government.
- Bardugo asserts the public supports Benjamin Netanyahu for security leadership and sees him as incorruptible.
- He argues that reliance on Arab parties is not viable for the left bloc after October 7th.
- Bardugo believes moral considerations will lead to defections from the left-wing bloc.
- He stated that Yair Lapid did not join Netanyahu's call for unity at the start of the war.
Likud candidate Yaakov Bardugo analyzed election poll results on a Channel 14 broadcast, asserting that the public has decisively supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his leadership in rebuilding the security system. Bardugo dismissed the impact of Netanyahu's ongoing trial, stating that the public perceives him as not corrupt and as the right leader for the task. He confidently predicted that defectors from the left-wing bloc would emerge, paving the way for a stable government.
Bardugo highlighted the accuracy of a "News 14" poll, which he claimed was the only one to predict the Likud as the largest party. He argued that the events of October 7th have created a situation where only Netanyahu can lead the nation through such a traumatic period and regain public trust. He reiterated that the public views Netanyahu as incorruptible and the appropriate leader to restore Israel's security apparatus.
Addressing the bloc dynamics, Bardugo criticized Gadi Eisenkot's aspirations for prime minister, stating that Eisenkot's strategy is based on an unrealistic premise. He argued that relying on Arab parties is not viable after October 7th, and that attempts to normalize such alliances would backfire on Yair Lapid and Eisenkot.
Bardugo pointed to the poll numbers, which showed the right-wing bloc with 60 seats, the left-wing bloc with 43, and Arab parties with 17. He suggested that moral considerations, particularly among bereaved families in the left bloc who cannot accept the notion of Hamas being a "charity organization," would lead to shifts. He explicitly stated that there would be defectors from the other side because they recognize the impossibility of depending on Arab parties, predicting this would result in a very stable government.
During the broadcast, panelist Shimon Riklin noted that Bardugo, known for his close ties to Netanyahu, did not rule out inter-bloc cooperation but instead directly pointed to potential defectors. When asked about the possibility of a wider conflict with Iran altering the political landscape, Bardugo recalled the start of the war on October 7th, stating that Netanyahu had set aside other matters and invited other parties to join, but Yair Lapid did not come.
Host Magi Tביבי pressed Bardugo on his firm assertion, and he reiterated his belief that the post-election political reality would compel individuals to cross lines, unwilling to leave the government reliant on the votes of Arab parties.
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