Goldknopf and Bennett May Break Israel's Election Deadlock

Political assessments circulating in Jerusalem indicate that Yitzhak Goldknopf's Agudat Yisrael faction and former prime minister Naftali Bennett could determine the structure of Israel's next government. With less than a day remaining before voting begins, officials are weighing scenarios that rely on these two figures to secure a stable majority.

Agudat Yisrael holds three Knesset seats. Assessments suggest the faction might support an opposition-led government in exchange for budgetary agreements. However, such a deal would not guarantee a majority, meaning the government would still require votes from Arab parties. This possibility echoes reports from August by Maariv, which stated that Agudat Yisrael was exploring cooperation with Gadi Eisenkot.

These discussions arose from internal friction within United Torah Judaism. The split between Agudat Yisrael and Degel Hatorah centers on the Haredi military draft and relations with Benjamin Netanyahu. Agudat Yisrael expressed disappointment with the coalition's behavior, while Degel Hatorah voiced a lack of confidence in the government. A letter from Rabbi Dov Lando further complicated ties between the Haredi parties and Likud by expressing reservations about maintaining the commitment to the Netanyahu bloc.

Goldknopf faces a distinct challenge because his voters align with the Right. Political assessments warn that any sign he would back a change bloc government could push supporters toward Likud or Otzma Yehudit. This dynamic makes his potential shift a high-risk move for any coalition builder.

Attention has also turned to Bennett, who could decide the government's shape if neither bloc wins a majority large enough to govern. One scenario involves Bennett joining a Netanyahu-led government if neither side reaches the 61 seats required for a Knesset majority. Political circles view this as a remote possibility. Some believe Bennett is the only change bloc leader capable of such a step due to his Right-wing background, though his current party composition complicates the move.

Similar calculations have been applied to Avigdor Liberman, who previously served as defense minister in a Netanyahu government. However, assessments indicate Liberman is far from a similar move due to personal and political disagreements with the prime minister. These remain scenarios and political assessments, not finalized agreements between the parties.