A senior coalition official told Yediot Aharonot's Nadav Eyal that the new parties formed by Gilad Erdan, Yuli Edelstein, Benny Gantz, and Dedi Shamchi are "good news" for the coalition, as they will attract Likud voters who would otherwise stay home. The official predicted these parties will eventually support Netanyahu to reach 61 seats, and ruled out joining a minority government backed by Arab parties.
A senior coalition official, speaking to Yediot Aharonot's Nadav Eyal, assessed that the recent wave of new party formations — including slates led by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, and by Benny Gantz and Dedi Shamchi — ultimately benefits the incumbent coalition. The official argued that these parties will draw Likud voters who might otherwise abstain, and that in the end they will align with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a 61-seat majority. He explicitly ruled out the possibility of a minority government relying on external Arab support.
As The Zioneer has reported over the past weeks, the Israeli political landscape has seen a flurry of new party announcements. On June 23, The Zioneer reported that Gantz and Shamchi were planning a united party, with Yoaz Hendel possibly joining the leadership. A June 25 report by Amit Segal (N12) confirmed joint leadership for that slate. Separately, Erdan and Edelstein's party was reported in earlier coverage, and Ayelet Shaked and Ofer Winter were also exploring a right-wing slate. The official's comments provide a rare inside view of coalition thinking on these developments.
2 developments
- DevelopingGilad Erdan prepares to announce new right-wing party with Edelstein — report
- Developingi24NEWS poll: Coalition at 58 seats, opposition at 49, several parties below threshold
- StrongAnalysis: Erdan, Edelstein targeting Likud leavers who remained on the right
- DevelopingBlogger predicts Netanyahu-Bennett-Eisenkot-Lieberman unity government
Source and signal
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