Jakarta, ThedailyID — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged smaller right-wing parties to withdraw from the upcoming election, warning that they could split votes and weaken his Likud party.
Israel is scheduled to hold its election on October 27, 2026. In a post on X on Thursday, October 22, Netanyahu shared an image of Ofer Winter, a former military officer who leads the right-wing Amcha Israel party, burning a ballot paper.
“Voting for parties that do not pass the electoral threshold equals a dangerous left-wing government led by Eizenkot, Lieberman, Yair Golan, and the Arab parties,” Netanyahu said, according to AFP on October 23, 2026.
Israeli parties must secure at least 3.25% of the vote to enter the Knesset, the country’s parliament. Polls cited in the report suggest Amcha Israel risks falling below that threshold, which would leave its votes without parliamentary representation.
Netanyahu also named potential rivals, including Gali Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party; Avigdor Lieberman, head of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party; and Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrats party.
“Vote Machal, vote Likud,” Netanyahu added. Machal is the official ballot symbol for Likud.
The appeal comes as polls indicate that smaller parties could struggle to cross the electoral threshold. If Amcha Israel withdraws, its supporters could instead consider other parties, although their eventual voting choices remain uncertain.
Recent surveys have also indicated declining support for Netanyahu and Likud, adding pressure on the prime minister ahead of the election.
