Eisenkot, Bennett continue race toward 61 seats, but could a team-up with Netanyahu be necessary?
The deadline for submitting candidate lists forces the parties to finalize their alliances, but the coalition question will remain open even after the final votes are cast.
Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, leaders of the B'Yachad and Yashar parties respectively, are vying for 61 parliamentary seats in the upcoming election. They have begun competing as both strive to establish their political camps and coalition paths leading up to the election. Bennett, speaking at an event in Rishon LeZion, took a firm right-wing stance against Eisenkot, advocating for E1 construction and opposition to a Palestinian state under any scenario.
On the other hand, Eisenkot aspires to present himself as a candidate capable of forming a coalition with a substantial number of seats, aiming for a target of 63-65 seats, and has hardened his position on conscription, aiming for at least 10,000 haredi recruits in each cycle. The differences between the two candidates have widened, with Bennett offering himself as an alternative to Netanyahu for right-wing voters and Eisenkot aiming to appeal to the political center while emphasizing his independence.
Shas has raised the stakes by demanding a conscription law before forming a coalition, and Yair Golan is maintaining his political independence. With no clear majority for an alternative government, the battle for the premiership has commenced.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
