Netanyahu and Smotrich Coordinate to Secure Right-Wing Votes Through Likud Reserved Slots

Ahead of upcoming elections, the Likud party is considering strategic moves to prevent losing votes within the national right-wing camp. According to journalist Anna Barsky from Maariv, Likud is exploring the possibility of using the reserved slots allocated to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to support a broader right-wing coalition. This plan primarily aims to reduce the risk for parties near the electoral threshold, including potentially assisting the Religious Zionism party led by Bezalel Smotrich if polls indicate it might struggle to pass the threshold.

This approach is not unprecedented. Ahead of the 2021 elections, Netanyahu orchestrated a similar maneuver when Ofir Sofer, a member of Religious Zionism, was placed in the 28th slot on the Likud list through the shelf party "One Future." This move enabled the unification of Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam, preventing the loss of right-wing votes. After being elected to the Knesset on the Likud list, Sofer split off as planned to rejoin his original faction.

The current consideration reflects ongoing efforts within the right-wing bloc to maximize parliamentary representation by leveraging Likud's reserved slots strategically. The final decision will likely depend on forthcoming poll data and coalition negotiations.