Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein Launch New 'Third Bloc' Party Ahead of Israeli Elections
After weeks of negotiations and deliberations, former Likud minister and ambassador Gilad Erdan is set to announce the formation of a new political party on Thursday, dubbed the 'Third Bloc.' This bloc aims to avoid aligning with either major coalition bloc, instead promoting a broad unity government. Joining Erdan will be fellow Likud defector MK Yuli Edelstein, who will serve as the party's second-in-command.
On Sunday, Erdan publicly rejected statements attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a reversal on the exemption from arrest law for draft-dodging ultra-Orthodox Jews. Erdan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "We no longer buy promises about 'recruitment' or 'unity.' We will not sit in a narrow government for any one side." This message signals his appeal to voters disillusioned with the current coalition's partnership with ultra-Orthodox parties.
However, Erdan faces criticism that he may act as a proxy for Netanyahu, given his Likud origins and the right-wing affiliations of his prospective list members. Critics argue that if Erdan's party passes the electoral threshold, it could ultimately support a Netanyahu-led government with a 61-seat majority.
The political landscape remains fragmented, with other 'Third Bloc' contenders like Benny Gantz, Yoaz Hendel, and Hili Tropper also running, complicating the prospects for a unified centrist list. Edelstein has engaged in talks with Gantz and his associates as part of Ayelet Shaked's efforts to consolidate smaller parties within the bloc, though Shaked will not join Erdan and Edelstein's party. Erdan and Edelstein have also reached out to other right-wing figures, including Aliza Bloch, Oren Samdech, and Colonel Hazi Nechama.
Last month, Edelstein participated in a meeting with Shaked, Gantz, and Dedi Simchi to explore potential unification, recognizing the need to reduce party fragmentation. Analysts warn that if multiple small lists run separately, none may surpass the electoral threshold, weakening the bloc's influence.
