Journalist Ariel Kahana writes that Netanyahu is paying 'earnest money' to ultra-Orthodox partners to prevent them from dismantling the bloc after elections, while looking to shed Ben Gvir but staying silent to secure his recommendation for forming the next government.
Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) published a political analysis Wednesday evening examining Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition strategy. According to Kahana, sources close to the prime minister indicate that the electoral cost of the alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties is already priced in — voters angered over the partnership have largely already left. Netanyahu is paying 'earnest money' to Shas leader Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism chairman Moshe Gafni to ensure they do not retaliate by dismantling the right-wing bloc after elections or joining opposition leader Eisenkot.
At the same time, Kahana assesses that Netanyahu is eager to shed Itamar Ben Gvir, describing work with the Otzma Yehudit leader as unbearable and the international damage he causes as severe. However, Netanyahu will not say so publicly before the election, to ensure Ben Gvir recommends him to the president for forming the next government. Kahana writes that the prime minister has repeatedly raised the vague concept of a 'broad national government,' the exact meaning of which remains unclear.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, internal coalition tensions and speculation about Netanyahu's political moves have been a recurring theme in Israeli political coverage this season. This analysis adds an on-the-record assessment from a senior Israeli political commentator.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake