Why Netanyahu's far-right partners are hurting him in upcoming Israel polls
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is struggling to maintain a unified right-wing bloc ahead of upcoming elections due to infighting among his coalition partners. Disagreements between far-right leaders Ben-Gvir and Smotrich threaten to split the vote, potentially causing smaller parties to fall below the electoral threshold.
Why it matters
The fragmentation of the right-wing bloc could significantly impact the outcome of the election and the future composition of the Israeli government.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing an unusual threat ahead of the October 27 election: divisions within the far-right bloc that support his government.Smotrich’s Religious Zionism and Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power, which ran together in the 2022 elections, have rejected Netanyahu's calls for another merger amid tensions. Meanwhile, smaller parties led by former Likud members and former general Ofer Winter are competing for the same right-wing voters, deepening fragmentation.“When we unite, we win. When we split up, we lose,” Netanyahu told Israel's local media outlet Channel 14, according to AP.Netanyahu currently heads a coalition of religious and ultranationalist parties.Netanyahu’s Likud party on Friday rebuked national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for refusing to run on a joint slate with finance minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, warning that a divided vote could weaken the coalition’s chances of retaining power.Several smaller parties are competing for the same right-wing electorate, raising the prospect…
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