Politics brief
Right-Wing Realignment Shapes Knesset Campaign
Defections and tactical mergers consolidate key slates as right-wing parties maneuver to survive thresholds and legal challenges.
Politics
Gotliv's defection protects her Knesset immunity while handing Ben Gvir a vocal surrogate against state legal authorities — cementing Otzma Yehudit's hardline edge.
BackgroundGotliv broke with Likud after falling to 20th place in party primaries, threatening her Knesset seat. She faces potential prosecution over allegations of exposing a Shin Bet officer's identity during parliamentary proceedings.
- Likud leadership agreed to Gotliv's transfer without enforcing statutory defection penalties or stripping her current committee posts.
- Otzma Yehudit Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf stepped down to third position on the list to yield the No. 2 slot to Gotliv.
- Ben Gvir praised Gotliv as an uncompromising ally who will strengthen his party's public confrontation with state law enforcement.
Politics
Smotrich and Feiglin merged to escape political extinction — consolidating right-wing votes to rescue Netanyahu's coalition math ahead of elections.
BackgroundFinance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist party had repeatedly polled near or below the electoral threshold. Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party brings libertarian-right voters into the combined slate to secure Knesset representation.
- Netanyahu's governing coalition rose to 51 seats in the latest Maariv survey, marking its highest seat projection since May.
- Feiglin reconciled with Smotrich to form the joint list, setting aside past political disputes to secure right-wing representation.
- The survey also revealed 40% of respondents hold conspiracy theories regarding internal security failures surrounding October 7.
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