New Right-Wing Party Threatens to Split Votes from Likud Bloc, Polls Show 7-9 Seats

Recent polls indicate a precarious situation for the Likud bloc, which is hovering around 50-52 Knesset seats. Political analyst Mati Tuchfeld of Maariv commented on these surveys, noting that 7-9 right-wing mandates are currently held by voters who support various right-wing parties but reject the existing coalition parties for different reasons. He explained that figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir are not considered viable, and Bezalel Smotrich is seen as too extreme. These voters also lack strong sympathy for Benjamin Netanyahu and are particularly disillusioned with prominent Likud figures, making even the relatively moderate Religious Zionist Party unattractive to them.

Tuchfeld added that these voters initially hoped for Naftali Bennett but abandoned him after his alliance with Yair Lapid. Gadi Eizenkot appears as a somewhat favorable option, though his views are seen as ambiguous and somewhat left-leaning. The new party, if it consistently passes the electoral threshold in polls, matches the expectations of this voter base. While Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper are not very appealing, their association with Benny Gantz, Dedi Simchi, or other mixed political groupings could be enough to resolve the voters' dilemma.

Tuchfeld further stated that Netanyahu is aware this expanded group will try to obscure the fact that this new party is designed to siphon votes from the right to support a government led by Eizenkot. He described it as a "new deception party" with many nods but a single natural habitat: former government members who all prefer to return to power. This development highlights the internal challenges facing the right-wing bloc ahead of the elections.