Israel’s political landscape as third elections loom
Public fear of a fourth election is a central concern for all the parties, and they are all battling apathy among their bases. Polls this week show that an apathetic electorate is a bigger issue for Blue and White and Likud than for the smaller, ideological parties.
Beyond defense and taxes and the issue of the paralyzed government (which has frozen everything from the construction of new apartments to day-care subsidies for the children of working parents), this election’s central issue is simple: Should Bibi Netanyahu remain prime minister?
Blue and White is hoping there are enough Likud voters who believe Netanyahu’s time is up. According to the party’s internal polling, there are two or three seats’ worth of Likud voters who could be swayed to vote for Gantz. These are mostly high-income Ashkenazim who live in urban areas, many of whom started voting for Likud in the Menachem Begin era. This group is characterized by a distaste for Bibi and his legal woes, along with hard-line nationalist views on defense and international relations.
Both parties also sense a shift among young, well-educated voters with low to middle incomes. This demographic admires Netanyahu’s diplomatic achievements, but is deeply dissatisfied with the Israeli economy. The Likud’s polling suggests that these voters want to replace Netanyahu, even if its members aren’t sure how things will change under Benny Gantz.
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