Amit Segal Supports Gilad Erdan’s Claim of Likud Offer Amid Political Shifts

Amit Segal, political analyst for Channel 12 News, expressed his belief in Gilad Erdan’s claim that he was offered a reserved spot (shield) on the Likud party list. Segal explained that such offers typically come through intermediaries close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the approach to Erdan as at least a preliminary move on Netanyahu’s behalf. However, Segal believes the offer was no longer relevant to Erdan, who has reportedly been working for two to three months on establishing a new political party.

Segal assessed that Erdan would have had no difficulty securing a spot in the Likud primaries, though perhaps not in the top positions he previously held. He noted that Erdan’s decision to leave Likud now, especially with speculation that this could be Netanyahu’s final term, seems politically counterproductive.

Regarding Netanyahu’s use of reserved spots within Likud, Segal stated that historically these have not been granted to top-tier figures. He suggested that if prominent names like Yossi Cohen or Gabi Ashkenazi were to receive such spots, it would be unprecedented. Of the eight reserved spots available, some are already allocated to current ministers or for political agreements within the right-wing bloc, leaving Netanyahu with only two or three significant spots to distribute.

Segal also commented on the proliferation of new right-wing parties, predicting that the current fragmentation will not last until the elections. He foresees political consolidation through mergers and withdrawals, ultimately leaving at most one party from this group.

On the possibility of Yoav Segalovich joining the Ra’am party, Segal described it as an unusual political move but too early to confirm. He noted Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas aims to become a full partner in the next government and possibly a minister, which this move could facilitate.

Finally, Segal addressed challenges facing the Shas party, highlighting internal concerns and voter losses from both critics of its stance on military conscription and ultra-Orthodox voters who feel the party has not sufficiently supported Torah scholars.