Al Jazeera
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up political consultations as he prepares for possible national elections later this year, Israeli news site Ynet reported.
Quoting unnamed political sources close to the premier, Ynet said Netanyahu is seeking ways to hold together his bloc should his coalition collapse when the Knesset returns from recess in October.
Discussions reportedly focused on convincing Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit, Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism, and Avi Maoz’s Noam party to run together, as they did in 2022.
Netanyahu has also considered launching a satellite party to draw right-wing voters reluctant to back his Likud or its partners, Ynet reported.
Talks also touched on merging Likud with Gideon Saar’s New Hope, announced last week, and maintaining Netanyahu’s control over Likud’s internal structures.
Quoting unnamed political sources close to the premier, Ynet said Netanyahu is seeking ways to hold together his bloc should his coalition collapse when the Knesset returns from recess in October.
Discussions reportedly focused on convincing Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit, Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism, and Avi Maoz’s Noam party to run together, as they did in 2022.
Netanyahu has also considered launching a satellite party to draw right-wing voters reluctant to back his Likud or its partners, Ynet reported.
Talks also touched on merging Likud with Gideon Saar’s New Hope, announced last week, and maintaining Netanyahu’s control over Likud’s internal structures.
