Amichai Shikli Warns Right Against Vote Splitting Amid Gantz-Shmihi Alliance Talks

Amichai Shikli, Israel's Minister for the Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism, expressed concern over potential vote splitting on the right following reports of a political alliance forming between Benny Gantz and Dedi Shmihi. In a Sunday interview with Tal Meir on Channel 14, Shikli described Gantz as a left-wing figure and characterized the emerging alliance as ideologically close to former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, placing it in the political center rather than the right or left.

Shikli cautioned that new parties emerging from the center could draw votes away from the right-wing bloc, risking the loss of seats due to Israel's electoral threshold. He cited previous examples such as the "Zehut" and "New Right" parties, which failed to cross the threshold despite similar platforms, emphasizing the importance for any new party to avoid siphoning votes from the right-wing camp. "Whoever runs must ensure they are not taking votes from the right and sending them to hell," Shikli warned.

The comments come amid ongoing discussions about the 2026 elections and the political realignments within Israel's center and right-wing factions. Shikli's remarks highlight the strategic challenges facing the right-wing parties as they seek to maintain unity and maximize their electoral strength in the upcoming vote.