Two New Parties Hover Near Threshold, Could Decide Israel Vote in 6 Days
Updated
Updated · The New Yorker · Oct 25
Two New Parties Hover Near Threshold, Could Decide Israel Vote in 6 Days
3 articles · Updated · The New Yorker · Oct 25
Summary
Six days before Israel’s election, two newly formed small parties are polling around the Knesset entry threshold and could determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot can build a governing coalition.
Polls have barely moved despite Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu and a backlash after right-wing host Yinon Magal called Eisenkot a “monkey,” leaving Eisenkot’s Yashar with only a small lead and no clear majority.
Amcha Yisrael, led by former general Ofer Winter, draws mainly from Netanyahu’s camp, but his pledge to back Netanyahu has hurt him and raised fears on the right that 2% to 3% of votes could be wasted if he falls short.
Yoaz Hendel’s newer alliance targets younger reservists angry over living costs, October 7 and ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions, but he refuses to commit to either bloc and rejects supporting a fragile minority government.
With Israeli polls recently missing by as much as 4%, the late rise of these hawkish niche parties reflects broader frustration with entrenched bloc politics, military burdens and the lack of consensus on Israel’s postwar direction.