{
  "id": 12359573,
  "title": "Netanyahu's Likud, Smotrich's RZP sign surplus-vote agreement ahead of elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/netanyahus-likud-smotrichs-rzp-sign-surplus-vote-agreement-ahead-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T10:58:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-910758"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's parties, Likud and the Religious Zionist Party, have reached a surplus-vote-sharing agreement before the October 27 elections. The deal involves pooling surplus votes after the initial seat allocation. If the combined surplus meets the threshold for an additional Knesset seat, one party may receive it, potentially solidifying their bloc's influence. However, the Religious Zionist Party is polling just above the threshold, at around five seats. Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's far-right Otzma Yehudit party has rejected the agreement, accusing Likud of attempting to form a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot, the leading opposition candidate. In September, the opposition bloc parties also signed surplus vote-sharing agreements to boost their chances of securing additional seats in the Knesset.",
  "summary": "Likud signed a surplus vote agreement with Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, while Otzma Yehudit accused Netanyahu’s party of sidelining Ben-Gvir.",
  "key_points": [
    "Likud and RZP sign surplus-vote agreement for October 27 elections",
    "Smotrich's party polls just above threshold with around five seats",
    "Otzma Yehudit rejects agreement, accusing Likud of unity government attempt"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}