Yuli Edelstein's Strategic Missteps Lead to Political Decline in Likud

Yuli Edelstein, a longtime Israeli politician, has suffered a significant political setback due to a series of strategic errors in recent years. His initial major mistake was positioning himself in opposition to Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu by announcing a bid for the party leadership in 2021, which he later withdrew in 2022. This move marked him as an internal challenger, a risky stance within Likud's entrenched leadership tradition, which has not seen a sitting leader removed in 80 years.

Edelstein further erred by relying on polls and political narratives predicting the fall of the government in early 2024, aligning himself on the wrong side of the political spectrum. His handling of the contentious issue of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) conscription into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) exemplified his miscalculations. Instead of advancing practical legislation to increase Haredi enlistment, Edelstein presided over protracted and largely unproductive discussions in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, which he chairs.

Rather than pushing for a temporary quota law to enlist 4,000-5,000 Haredi soldiers by 2025 in exchange for suspending sanctions, he allowed endless symposiums that mainly served the political ambitions of other figures and groups. Consequently, no significant increase in Haredi enlistment occurred, the government remained intact, and no consensus draft law was passed.

Now, Edelstein faces the challenge of justifying his political relevance to voters, especially as he transitions from a senior role in a 32-seat party to leading a faction with only four seats. Analysts note that the electorate demands tangible achievements rather than explanations for failed initiatives. Edelstein's recent political trajectory underscores the difficulties of internal opposition within Likud and the complexities of advancing sensitive social issues like Haredi conscription.