A blind sect? The real reason Likud voters are heading to the polls tomorrow

Rational, and not by chance. Among public opinion leaders, they are a hated public, if not the most hated in Israeli society. One of the greatest literary figures compared them to the German public in the Third Reich. From the perspective of part of the security establishment, especially former officials, they are considered a sect. A sect of believers who worship their leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

But tomorrow we will finally see the beginning of democracy in action in the State of Israel. These are the members of Likud. And yes, contrary to the opinion of some people, they are perhaps the most rational public in their voting. For example, commentators condemn Likudniks because the economic and social issues hardly interest them in the list of priorities they will take to the polls tomorrow. There is an understandable reason for this; economically, the segments of the population that make up Likud, mostly second-generation Mizrahim, are succeeding relatively, and perhaps more than relatively. Just recently, the Adva Center published that in the salaried sector of the country, Mizrahim have for the first time surpassed Ashkenazim in their average salary. And this also includes women. We are talking about a salary of more than 22 thousand, and among women more than 12 thousand. All this against the backdrop of additional economic data that signals positive stabilization, which no one could have predicted two and a half years ago: growth of nearly 4% and inflation that in historical terms would be considered negligible, 1.5%.

But the central consideration that should stand before the eyes of the primary voters is the very act of going and participating. This will be a clear signal as to whether Likud has lost its fighting spirit. Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, will face a strong headwind this time. Everyone, including the Election Committee, wants to see them sitting at home and at most going on vacation, as long as they leave this "shameful" matter, called casting a ballot, in the hands of the "statists" who despise them. The obsessive activity accompanied by the directives of the Election Committee creates the impression that anyone who decides to participate in the elections on October 27 is taking some risk and might get into trouble. And those responsible for morale are trying to rub the nose of this people in the dust of our land so as not to let go of October 7.

The rejection of Likud voters is embodied by Gadi Eisenkot's decision to prefer the formation of a minority government if he does not reach a majority. Others, from those who see themselves as prime ministers in the next coalition, believe that the anti-right bloc reaches about 62 seats. So, from the perspective of someone who sees themselves as a right-wing voter, the very act of going to the polls is the most rational act so as not to plunge the country into a parliamentary entanglement that would prevent the formation of a broad coalition. Tomorrow's vote has a role in awakening the field. From the perspective of the left and the center, Eisenkot's line — to continue the boycott of Likud and Netanyahu — is in question. The primaries in Likud present the public with an open identity card as is customary in a democracy. Eisenkot settles for presenting a prisoner's tag and is only willing to reveal a personal number.