Israeli ultra-Orthodox party thuds from kingmakers to election losers
For years the ultra-Orthodox party Shas figured in most of Israel's governments, whether led from the right or the left, hoping to use their consistent number of seats to advance the community's interests. But in last week's election, the party's clout collapsed as it lost nearly half of its seats, stung by disenchantment over Shas's alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As the Democratic Party secured a decisive victory in the US midterm elections, Israeli political figures and analysts expressed grave concerns about the implications for their own national security. Their primary worry centers on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declining standing in the United States.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who secured re-election to parliament as part of the centre-right Together alliance, emphasized that the US election results had effectively eliminated any chance of forming a unity government with Netanyahu. Lapid warned that having Netanyahu as prime minister poses significant threats to Israel's security, democracy, and global standing.
Recent Israeli reports suggest that US President Donald Trump is exerting pressure on Netanyahu and opposition leaders to form a unity government, which would exclude extremist elements. This move, according to Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrats alliance, would serve the purpose of advancing Trump's Middle Eastern policies.
Lapid's remarks come in the wake of the US election results, which saw progressive Democrats make significant gains, including Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. The political tide in the United States seems to be turning, and Israeli officials are keenly aware of the potential ramifications for their own country.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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