The Israeli Right needs a merger, not another messiah - opinion
Israel’s Right does not lack voters. It does not lack ideas. It does not even lack leaders. What it lacks is the humility to put them on one ballot.
The Israeli Right faces a leadership crisis rather than a voter shortage. Prominent figures like Gilad Erdan, Yuli Edelstein, Sharren Haskel, Yoaz Hendel, Chili Tropper, Ayelet Shaked, and Ofer Winter are vying for control of the politically fragmented electorate, each seeking to define the Right's future. With Israel's electoral threshold at 3.25%, the fragmentation risks losing right-wing votes altogether.
Despite this, there is still a clear constituency for a national, Zionist, security-oriented, classically liberal, and democratic right-wing party. Israelis want Jewish sovereignty, military strength, economic freedom, and a state that functions. They respect Torah study but reject permanent exemptions from national responsibility. Many still support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while others believe his era should end.
The right-wing movement originally defined itself as a national-liberal movement, combining Jewish nationalism, settlement, security with individual liberty, civil rights, the rule of law, and a competitive free market. However, Likud has contracted from a broad political base into a coalition-maintenance system centered around one leader. This dependence on haredi parties and Ben-Gvir has weakened the Right's appeal.
The new leaders, including Erdan, Edelstein, Haskel, Hendel, Tropper, Shaked, and Winter, have the experience, security credentials, and ideological range to form a strong governing party. However, they cannot simply accuse Likud of abandoning the national-liberal Right and then fragment that constituency. They must work together to create a serious Right-wing party that represents their shared values.
A consolidated party could bring Likud a major Zionist partner while challenging it on national service and coalition dependence. It could also make Ben-Gvir optional, work with haredi parties without permanent exemptions, and accommodate Eisenkot within a Right-led national government without surrendering the Right's future to him. A broad governing Right can negotiate, while a fragmented Right risks being extorted.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
