Ayelet Shaked Meets Key Figures in Bid to Reunify Political Forces Ahead of 2026 Elections

Former Israeli Minister Ayelet Shaked has intensified efforts to reenter politics by engaging in talks with prominent political figures, including Yuli Edelstein, Benny Gantz, and Dedi Simchi. These meetings come after weeks of negotiations aimed at exploring a united front for the upcoming elections, motivated by concerns that a fragmented field of candidates with similar agendas could prevent any from passing the electoral threshold.

Earlier reports indicated discussions between Shaked and Edelstein, who recently left the Likud party, about running together. Recently, Shaked has also increased her political visibility on social media, signaling her intent to reengage actively in the political arena. The latest development saw a quadrilateral meeting involving Shaked, Edelstein, Gantz, and Simchi, who are expected to run jointly, reflecting a strategic move to avoid vote splitting.

The political landscape ahead of the elections remains fluid, with numerous potential candidates including Gilad Erdan, Ofer Winter, Moshe Feiglin, Professor Yaron Zelekha, Yoaz Hendel, Hili Tropper, and Yosef Haddad also in the mix. With less than two months until the candidate list deadline, the final configuration of alliances and candidacies is still uncertain.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed a desire for a broad national government that includes all political blocs, responding to challenges within the religious sector and signaling openness to incorporating all faith-based parties. The coming weeks will reveal whether these efforts to consolidate political forces will succeed in shaping the next Knesset.