Haredi Bloc and Bennett Could Decide Next Israeli Government
With the vote imminent, political analysts assess how three specific actors might swing the balance of power in the Knesset.
By Isabella Melnyk ·
Political strategists in Israel are evaluating scenarios where Yitzhak Goldknopf’s small haredi faction or former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett determines the composition of the next government. These assessments suggest that neither the Right nor the Change Bloc may secure the 61 seats required for a Knesset majority, forcing leaders to seek outside support or trigger another election.
Agudat Yisrael, a party holding only three seats, could offer support to a government led by opposition figures. Such an arrangement would likely involve budgetary agreements in exchange for votes. However, analysts note that this support might not be sufficient on its own, potentially still requiring votes from Arab parties to reach a stable majority.
Cooperation between Agudat Yisrael and the Change Bloc is not new. In August, Maariv reported that the party was examining options, including potential ties with Gadi Eisenkot. This interest grew amid internal tensions within United Torah Judaism. Disagreements arose over the haredi military draft and relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rabbi Dov Lando also sent a letter expressing reservations about staying in the Netanyahu-led bloc.
Goldknopf faces a hurdle because his voter base largely identifies with the Right. Analysts warn that any move to support the Change Bloc could cause some of his supporters to defect to Likud or Otzma Yehudit. This risk complicates his ability to act as a kingmaker without losing his core constituency.
Another scenario centers on Naftali Bennett. If neither bloc reaches the majority threshold, Bennett could join a Netanyahu-led government. His background on the Right makes him the only leader in the Change Bloc considered capable of such a shift. However, this move would require him to change his political support base and would be complicated by the current makeup of his party.
Avigdor Liberman is a less likely candidate for a similar move. Although he previously joined a Netanyahu government as defense minister, current personal and political disagreements make a reunion unlikely. For now, these remain political assessments rather than formal agreements, leaving the post-election landscape in flux as the vote approaches.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
