Netanyahu Urges Right-Wing Allies to Merge Before October Election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging his hard-line allies to consolidate their political parties before the October 27 election to avoid splitting the right-wing vote. Netanyahu warns that if small pro-government parties fail to meet the 3.25% parliamentary threshold, the resulting lost votes could jeopardize his reelection.

While one small party agreed to merge into Bezalel Smotrich's list on September 3, other key allies have resisted. Cabinet Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have both rejected calls to reunite their respective parties, Jewish Power and Religious Zionism, citing personal friction. Parties have until September 8 to finalize these consolidations.

The upcoming election serves as a referendum on Netanyahu's 17-year leadership and his management of the October 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.