Netanyahu Offers Reserved Knesset Seat to Unite Right-Wing Parties Ahead of Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed willingness to allocate one of his reserved spots on the Likud party list to facilitate the unification of right-wing factions ahead of the upcoming elections. This move aims to overcome divisions among smaller right-wing parties and prevent the loss of votes due to some lists potentially failing to cross the electoral threshold. A senior Likud official confirmed that Netanyahu views consolidating the right-wing bloc as a "top strategic priority" to secure a parliamentary majority.

The reserved seat, which the party leader can assign according to Likud's constitution, is intended to address demands from smaller parties seeking guaranteed Knesset representation as a condition for merging or running jointly. The offer primarily targets bridging gaps between leaders of parties such as Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Amichai Israel, and Noam, as well as key right-wing figures not yet affiliated with an established party.

No formal proposal has yet been presented to the right-wing party heads, with discussions expected to intensify closer to the candidate list submission deadline in about two weeks. While the Prime Minister's office has not officially commented, sources close to Netanyahu confirmed that "all options are on the table" to ensure the national camp's unity. Netanyahu had previously urged smaller right-wing parties to either unite or withdraw to avoid vote splitting.