Both the right and the left cling to the edge

Akiva Lem analyzes why polls are not moving ahead of the elections: the opposition does not dare to quarrel with Yair Golan, the coalition does not dare to quarrel with Itamar Ben Gvir, and both expect the undecided voter to do what they themselves are afraid to do – filter out the extremes. As long as this is the case, the elections will run in neutral.

Akiva Lem analyzes in his column why the polls are not moving ahead of the Knesset elections, despite the start of the new year. According to him, both blocs are stuck because neither is willing to part with its extreme. The opposition does not dare to quarrel with Yair Golan, and the coalition does not dare to quarrel with Itamar Ben Gvir. Both expect the undecided voter to do what they themselves are afraid to do – filter out the extremes. Lem notes that last Saturday night, Yair Lapid hosted the party leaders at his home, where basic guidelines for the last 30 days before the elections were agreed upon. He argues that the conspiracy of silence among the leaders of the change bloc erases the promise to stop Golan and makes it difficult for a disappointed right-wing voter to vote for the bloc. Conversely, a disillusioned left-wing voter knows that a vote for the 'Amcha Yisrael' party of Winter is a vote for Ben Gvir. Lem concludes that as long as the blocs do not filter out the extremes, the elections will run in neutral.