World News
Netanyahu pushes divided right-wing allies to unite ahead of October election
The Israeli prime minister warns that fragmented allied factions risk falling below the electoral threshold, jeopardizing his governing coalition.
The short version
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging small, hard-line and pro-government factions to merge lists ahead of the Oct. 27 national election.
- Parties need at least 3.25% of the total vote to enter the 120-seat Knesset, meaning votes for small, independent factions could be wasted if they fail to qualify.
- Allied party leaders have largely resisted consolidation due to personal rivalries, though one small party joined Bezalel Smotrich's list.
- Factions face a Sept. 8 deadline to consolidate, withdraw from the race, or run independently.
Key facts
- Israel is scheduled to hold a national election on Oct. 27, serving as a critical test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership.[Associated Press]
- Parties must secure a minimum of 3.25% of the overall vote to receive representation in the 120-member parliament.[Associated Press]
- Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism and Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power, who ran jointly in 2022, have so far resisted Netanyahu's pressure to form a unified ticket.[Associated Press]
- One smaller right-wing faction agreed to join Smotrich’s electoral list.[Associated Press]
- Political parties have until Sept. 8 to finalize mergers, withdraw candidate lists, or confirm separate runs.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Whether additional right-wing factions will agree to merge before the Sept. 8 filing deadline remains unknown.[Associated Press]
- It is uncertain if the competing small factions running independently will manage to cross the 3.25% parliamentary threshold.[Associated Press]