Yuli Edelstein Leads Potential Right-Wing Party Merger Ahead of Israeli Elections

With fewer than 110 days until the Israeli elections, the center bloc remains deeply fragmented, and no party has yet managed to consolidate significant support. Polls indicate that nearly 20 to 30 Knesset seats are up for grabs between the Likud and the emerging party led by Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot, but multiple factions are competing unsuccessfully for these votes. Within existing parties, Benny Gantz, who recently allied with Dedi Simchi, is drifting away from Yoaz Hendel and the reservists, who are now gravitating toward Ron Troper, a former Gantz ally. Hendel is currently on reserve duty, delaying negotiations. Gantz is polling below the electoral threshold but brings with him about 8 million shekels in party funding, while Troper and Hendel would have to start from scratch. Gantz also faces challenges in securing 3-4 loyal Knesset candidates, making his list crowded.

Yuli Edelstein has emerged as a prominent figure in the right-wing center party market. More right-wing than Netanyahu, Edelstein opposed the disengagement plan and resigned as Knesset Speaker following a Supreme Court ruling. He has ruled out running with Likud due to disagreements over ultra-Orthodox enlistment policies. Potential allies for Edelstein include Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador to Washington and the UN, who seeks a high spot on a satellite party list without primary challenges, and Ayelet Shaked, who could attract disappointed Smotrich supporters and liberal right-wing voters, possibly with backing from religious Zionist rabbis. Ofer Winter might also join to broaden the party's appeal to right-wing voters.

However, these discussions remain theoretical with no breakthroughs or consensus on leadership. The fragmented right-wing center parties, which could potentially win around 10 Knesset seats, have yet to agree on key figures. Meanwhile, other centrist parties like "The Fourth Quarter" and "To the Flag," led by former Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch and David Ben-Zion of the Jewish Home, are campaigning independently but have not been invited to join any coalition efforts.