Netanyahu Faces Challenges Organizing Right-Wing Bloc Ahead of Israeli Elections

In the coming three weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party will intensify efforts to organize and consolidate the right-wing bloc ahead of the upcoming elections. Despite Netanyahu's significant influence within Likud, recent primary results reveal internal challenges, including resistance to removing certain candidates like David Bitan, whom Netanyahu wished to exclude. Additionally, a new female candidate supported by Bitan secured a reserved spot on the list, limiting Netanyahu's freedom to select candidates solely at his discretion.

One key issue Netanyahu must address is the underrepresentation of women on the Likud list. Currently, the first woman appears only in the eighth position, with the next not until twentieth place. To counter criticism from opponents and for substantive reasons, Netanyahu is reportedly considering adding one or two more women through reserved slots. Another notable gap is in the strategic and security sectors, where Likud has historically lacked senior representatives, many of whom have gravitated toward centrist or left-wing parties. Given the ongoing and intense military conflicts Israel faces, Netanyahu is likely to prioritize including a woman with a strong security background, possibly from the Russian-speaking community.

The article also highlights the fragmentation within the right-wing camp, with new formations such as Benny Gantz's State Camp and Hili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel's Zionist Home drawing some right-wing votes. Other right-identified groups like Gilad Erdan's 'Unity' and Moshe Feiglin's 'Identity' movement, as well as yet-to-be-announced lists led by Ofer Winter and Amir Avivi, further complicate the right-wing electoral landscape. Without effective right-wing coordination, the election outcome could be heavily influenced by the electoral threshold.

This analysis underscores the complex balancing act Netanyahu faces in candidate selection, representation, and coalition-building to maintain Likud's dominance and secure a right-wing majority in the Knesset.