Around the electoral threshold: The parties that could decide the elections | with Amir Ettinger

Amir Ettinger, ynet's Knesset correspondent, maps the small parties hovering around the electoral threshold in the 2026 elections: Ofer Winter, Handel and Zalicha, Moti Leitner, and Benny Gantz. He explains that these represent hundreds of thousands of votes that could determine the outcome, and that both blocs are pressuring the parties to withdraw for fear of wasted votes.

Amir Ettinger, ynet's Knesset correspondent, maps the small parties hovering around the electoral threshold in the 2026 elections and explains the implications for the election results. The main parties are that of Ofer Winter, who according to polls passes the electoral threshold, and that of Handel and Zalicha. Alongside them, the 'Haredi Public' party of Moti Leitner and Benny Gantz are below the electoral threshold. Ettinger explains that these represent hundreds of thousands of votes that could be wasted. Both blocs are pressuring the parties to withdraw: in the Netanyahu bloc, they are trying to get Winter to withdraw, and in the Change bloc, they want to see Handel and Zalicha withdraw. Ettinger assesses that Winter will not withdraw, and if he passes the electoral threshold, he will likely join Netanyahu. The analysis notes that attacks from the right are weakening Winter in the polls, and his average stands at about 3% against a threshold of 3.25%.