Netanyahu fears splits in the bloc - and tries to create order in the chaos: "To be or not to be"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working behind the scenes to unite the right-wing bloc ahead of the elections, fearing that a split into too many lists could cause a fall below the electoral threshold. He approached Moshe Kahlon with an offer of a reserved spot in Likud, while Ofer Winter refused similar offers and will form a new party. Netanyahu claims the bloc should run with only four lists.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up his election campaign after the Likud primaries, focusing on what he sees as the most important political task: organizing the right-wing bloc and preventing splits. Behind the scenes, his associates are in contact with former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who has been told his place on the list is reserved. Kahlon has not ruled out the offer. In contrast, reserve Brigadier General Ofer Winter refused offers of a reserved spot and will form a new party, leading Netanyahu to take a harsh line against him and brief against him. Netanyahu claims in closed conversations that the bloc should go to the elections with only four lists, similar to 2022, and that a fifth list would remain without an excess vote agreement, wasting half a seat. He warns that running with six lists would certainly lead to one falling below the electoral threshold. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is keeping six reserved spots, including one for Minister Avi Dichter who did not pass the primaries, and one intended for a renewed connection between Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, whose differences have deepened since the partnership forced on them in 2022. The deadline for submitting lists is September 8.