Attempt to push Yair Golan and the Haredim out: Gilad Erdan's new party

Gilad Erdan's emerging party will focus on drafting Haredim and forming a unity government with Netanyahu and Eisenkot, will rule out partnership with the Haredim and Yair Golan, and will adopt a right-wing line in policy and security. The party will condition its joining the coalition on forming a broad unity government and will not serve as the '61st finger' for a narrow government. Adding Ben Gvir is possible provided he does not hold a key position. The party is expected to draw votes from the right that is wary of the alliance with the Haredim and from right-wing voters who moved to the opposition.

Ahead of the expected launch of the new party headed by former Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, the main principles of the list are becoming clear. The party, which is expected to be based solely on right-wing figures, including Lt. Col. (res.) Hezi Nehama, will place at the center of its agenda the issue of drafting Haredim and promoting a broad unity government. The party is expected to present a strict line regarding the composition of the next government: it will condition its joining the coalition on forming a unity government that includes Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, while ruling out sitting with the 'Democrats' party led by Yair Golan or with the Haredi parties. Party leaders clarify that they will not serve as the '61st finger' to form a narrow government, even at the cost of going to another election. Regarding the addition of Itamar Ben Gvir, the party's position is that it is possible, provided he does not hold a key position or a decisive role in the government. The political and security line will be right-wing, including continued development of settlements in Judea and Samaria, and the party will support changes to the judicial system, but in a format different from that promoted by the current government. The underlying assumption is that security challenges require a significant increase in the IDF's force size through mass drafting of Haredim, a move that they claim can only be advanced if the Haredi factions remain outside the coalition. Erdan's associates estimate that the party will succeed in attracting votes from right-wing people who are wary of the alliance with the Haredim, as well as from right-wing voters who moved to support opposition parties such as those of Eisenkot, Avigdor Liberman, and Naftali Bennett. According to party sources, the launch will lead to changes in the party map: small center parties like Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper will be forced to merge with Eisenkot's list, while other right-wing parties like that of Ofer Winter will have to join Religious Zionism or Otzma Yehudit. Additionally, there is an assessment that the 'Blue and White' party led by Benny Gantz, which ran on the same message of forcing unity, will be forced to choose between merging with a left-wing party or dropping out of the race.