Likud fears new right-wing parties, alliances could split vote below electoral threshold – analysis

Likud officials are increasingly concerned that new right-wing parties and alliances, particularly a potential partnership between Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Ofer Winter and Yoseph Haddad, could split the vote and cause right-wing lists to fall below the electoral threshold. Winter is expected to announce his party next week, with Haddad reportedly in advanced talks to join as the number two. Likud fears Haddad's public profile and supporter base could give a Winter-Haddad list a strong starting point, making it harder to persuade them to drop out. Senior Likud officials have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consider reserving a spot for Haddad on the Likud list to prevent this alliance. Likud is also considering using reserved spots to assist the Religious Zionist Party if it struggles to cross the electoral threshold, aiming to prevent the loss of right-wing votes, a strategy previously employed in the 2021 election.