Right-wing fragmentation and third bloc collapse reshape election map

Fogel exits Otzma Yehudit, Shaked bows out, Ashkenazi eyes Likud, and a new poll shows bloc parity slipping.

Right-wing fragmentation and third bloc collapse reshape election map — MK Zvika Fogel, chairman of the National Security Committee and a reserve brigadier general, announced his withdrawal from the race for the 26th Knesset on behalf of the Otzma Yehudit party after being pushed to a low spot on the list. [^1] He noted that the path to continuing his work in the Knesset or in the future government is not possible as he planned, and wished success to his party colleagues. His exit follows a pattern of consolidation on the far right, where the Religious Zionist Party's central committee approved a technical bloc with Zehut and authorized Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to pursue additional alliances ahead of the upcoming elections. [^2] On the center-right, former minister Ayelet Shaked announced she will not run in the upcoming elections, after negotiations for a union in the 'third bloc' partially failed. [^3] Simultaneously, former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi has received an offer to join the Likud list, with a promise of a spot in the top five as the party's senior security figure. [^4] The Blue and White party under Benny Gantz, after the collapse of talks with MK Yuli Edelstein and the departure of Hili Tropper, is preparing for an independent run. [^5] The Central Elections Committee approved today by a vote of 19 to 11 the use of the Elector application, which allows real-time reporting to parties on citizens who are not voting. [^6] Likud's representative, attorney Ilan Bombach, called the cancellation of the use of Elector "a terrorist attack for Likud." Daniel Pelber from the Pirate Party, part of a global movement, called for a more open democracy through technology, saying, "The Knesset cannot give every citizen a seat, but it can give every citizen a voice." [^7] A Kan News poll published this evening shows the Netanyahu bloc at 52 seats and the Eisenkot bloc at 51, with Likud weakening to 20 seats. [^8] The Union of Yoaz Hendl and Prof. Yaron Zalicha party crosses the electoral threshold with 4 seats, further complicating the bloc picture. Netanyahu solidifies his lead over Bennett after three close weeks, with 37% versus 32% on suitabil