Israeli Political Landscape Shifts Ahead of October 27 Election

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to unify Israel's right wing to avoid a potential election defeat as the deadline for candidate list submissions approaches. Recent polling indicates a precarious position for the Prime Minister, with one poll showing his coalition dropping to 47 seats while the opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party, could potentially reach a 61 seat majority. This majority could be achieved without the support of Arab parties if the joint Reservists and Economic Party slate joins the opposition.

Netanyahu has urged allies to merge lists to prevent votes from being wasted below the 3.25 percent electoral threshold. While Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party merged with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut, Itamar Ben Gvir's Jewish Power party has declined to merge. Additionally, right wing newcomer Ofer Winter has rejected calls to unite, citing the security failures of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Center leaning coverage emphasizes that Netanyahu's hawkish image was shattered by these security failings and subsequent wars in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

Other shifts are appearing across the political spectrum. Yair Golan, leader of the left wing Democrats party, has pledged to end the wars and address Jewish settler violence in the West Bank if the opposition wins. Within the ultra Orthodox sector, left leaning reports highlight a brewing political revolt and the historic selection of Dr. Nechumi Yaffe as the first woman to run on an ultra Orthodox party slate for the Haredi Public party.