Israeli Elections
Likud predicted to win 31 to 32 seats, with 10 to 14 predicted for Yesh Atid and 13 for former IDF chief’s Israel Resilience Party • Labor continues to crash and burn, with projections in the single digits • Habayit Hayehudi hovers around the minimum threshold.
On Tuesday, April 9, Israelis will elect their legislative branch, the Knesset. But they won’t actually know the final results of the top job until weeks later.
Bezalel Smotrich beat Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel for leadership of the party in a vote of 83-40.
Learn the various methods political parties in Israel determine which candidates will appear on their lists for the 21st Knesset.
The religious-Zionist National Union faction planning another joint run with Habayit Hayehudi • Instead of party-wide primaries, a limited forum of 128 central committee members will elect a new party leader and decide on its list for the April election.
In a meeting with Druze leaders, ex-IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz vowed to do “all he could” to change the controversial nation-state law so that it would reflect “the indelible bond between us, not just in the battlefield but also in everyday life.”
Some rough behavior occurred at the conference of the Labor Party central committee on Jan. 10, attended by 2,500, including reports of physical violence.
At national Likud event, party ministers blast other factions • Nearly 70 percent of attendees say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not have to resign if he is indicted.
New Right leader Naftali Bennett says that for the first time in years, voters might switch from left to right, with New Right taking half of former IDF Chief Benny Gantz’s supporters.
The lineup is still not finalized. Likud’s Central Committee will elect those running for the district seats based on location; the other seats would be chosen by all Likud members.
By making the address, the Israeli prime minister was gambling that proactively keeping the allegations against him at the top the news will actually help him in the polls.
The sudden and surprising announcement by Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked has many in the party trying to figure out their next moves.
