Israel’s next political upheaval will come from the Right - opinion

The Israeli political landscape is on the brink of a significant upheaval, according to an opinion piece. The Right wing, currently fractured into various factions, is engaging in a dangerous experiment of self-sabotage. Instead of uniting, each group is creating its own party in pursuit of unity, resulting in a surplus of politicians and wasted votes.

Ofer Winter leads "People of Israel," Gilad Erdan, Yuli Edelstein, and Aliza Bloch form "Unity," Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper comprise "Zionist Home," and Sharren Haskel leads "Israel First." Each party is vying for unity, leading to overlapping voters and a structural problem that shows no signs of improvement.

Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin have agreed to a technical-bloc agreement, with Feiglin accepting second place, potentially opening the door for Winter to join ahead of him. However, Winter has refused five guaranteed Likud slots, arguing that Israel needs new leaders untainted by the failures of October 7.

The larger bench of political figures is no longer hypothetical. Winter already has Yoseph Haddad and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Unity has Erdan, Edelstein, and Bloch, Zionist Home has Hendel and Tropper, and Israel First has Haskel and Jonathan Pollard. If these networks were consolidated, they could form a government with ministers, a former Knesset speaker, diplomats, commanders, and new blood shaped by the events of October 7.

The challenge lies in consolidation. Each party believes that being at the top is better than being third in a governing movement, but the reality is that power comes with giving something up. Benny Gantz and Erdan are discussing a merger, but maintaining their positions below the threshold complicates the issue. This highlights the need for a new "act of likud," or consolidation, rather than creating another political entity.

Menachem Begin's 1977 political revolution ended nearly three decades of Labor dominance. The lesson was to recognize that common purpose matters more than individual affiliations. Israel does not need another Likud; it needs another act of likud, emphasizing unity and collaboration among ambitious individuals.

Sharren Haskel, in particular, is being watched closely. She has already sacrificed a position as deputy foreign minister over haredi (ultra-Orthodox) military exemptions and resigned in 2020 to focus on consolidation. Haskel's actions demonstrate a commitment to unity and a potential willingness to accept a lower position within a consolidated party.

Ultimately, the road to consolidation requires hard sacrifices from all parties involved. If Israel First truly means "Israel first," Haskel may need to accept a position lower than first in a consolidated list. Other leaders, such as Winter, Erdan, Edelstein, Hendel, and Tropper, must also decide which principles they are willing to compromise in the pursuit of power.

The current political landscape in Israel presents a unique opportunity for consolidation, but it will require a willingness to give up something for the greater good. Only time will tell if the right-wing factions have the courage to embrace this idea and bring about a new era of political unity in Israel.