Maariv

Ofer Winter is establishing a party but is keeping the Likud awake at night, the fragments of the Right are threatening the integrity of the bloc, and on the other side – last-minute survival attempts threaten to reshuffle the cards.

According to the Kan News poll, Eisenkot overtakes Likud with 24 mandates, and Netanyahu loses in the suitability for prime minister question to Bennett as well. A new scenario brings Winter into the Knesset and leaves Smotrich below the electoral threshold.

Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Strock are demanding that the cabinet prevent the entry of multinational forces into the Gaza Strip until Hamas is fully disarmed. They claim that infrastructure is already being built to accommodate thousands of foreign soldiers.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is considering reserving a spot for Hapoel Hadera captain, reserve combat soldier, and torchbearer Menashe Zalka, in a move intended to appeal to young people and Ethiopian immigrants. At the same time, ways are being examined to promote Ze'ev Elkin on the list, as well as a possible reserved spot for Avi Dichter.

Behind the scenes of the Haredi world, the possibility of translating the opposition to the conscription of yeshiva students into a new electoral force is being examined. However, senior official Moti Babchik has already publicly clarified that Gur does not intend to give up its leadership within Agudat Yisrael.

Against the backdrop of the enlistment law storm and the decline in polls, MK Uriel Buso clarifies who will not receive backing from Shas, defends Aryeh Deri, and claims that "left-wing elements paying a lot of money" are behind the jeers.

Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas fears "false accusations and conspiracy theories" against Yoav Segalovitz, who is set to join the faction. He also explains why he chose to speak about a Palestinian state: "Netanyahu did not say he does not want a Palestinian state."

According to the latest data from the American prediction market platform "Kalshi", former Chief of Staff and minister Gadi Eisenkot is opening a significant gap over his competitors, jumping to a 59% chance of winning the position. Similar results are also seen on "Polymarket".

Following the Likud primaries, right-wing parties are attempting to attract disappointed voters from the right wing. Meanwhile, concern is growing within Likud regarding the move by Ofer Winter and Yoseph Haddad, and the possibility that votes will remain below the electoral threshold.

Gadi Eisenkot continues to strengthen and widens the lead over Netanyahu, while the opposition bloc approaches a decisive moment. And also: how many votes are wasted below the electoral threshold and what do they think in Likud about reserving a spot for Yair Netanyahu | Maariv poll

Ronen Tzur addressed the party being established by Ofer Winter, the tension between him and Gadi Eisenkot, and possible connections within the right-wing bloc and the bloc opposing Netanyahu. According to him, those who do not shrink their egos may find themselves outside the political wheel.

MK Efrat Rayten sharply attacked Miri Regev against the backdrop of the chaos at Ben Gurion Airport, backed Yair Golan after the storm surrounding the attack in Syria - and also revealed what she is trying to promote behind the scenes with Einav Zangauker.

Following the Kol HaYehudi investigation that exposed the Khamaisi plan to alter the demographic map of the Galilee, Professor Rassem Khamaisi responded in an interview with Radio Al-Shams, stating that the Arab community must act politically to work for a fair distribution of land.

Moshe Green and former MK Gadi Yevarkan have announced a political merger ahead of the upcoming elections, aiming to bridge agricultural settlement, labor Zionism, and the social-national right.

Yuli Edelstein took a jab during an interview on 103FM at Likud members, and specifically at Knesset member Tali Gottlieb. He also returned to the day he was ousted from the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Knesset member Zvi Sukkot criticized the potential establishment of a new party by Ofer Winter: "It is something that endangers the right-wing bloc."

Dr. Zvika Mor, father of Eitan who returned from captivity and 4th on the Religious Zionism list, opens up about everything: from the creative ways his son survived the tunnels to his plan for a revolution in Israel's education and security systems.

The threat from Winter and Haddad puts Smotrich at risk of falling below the electoral threshold, and Netanyahu is preparing a rescue plan. Alongside promoting Dichter and contacts with Kahlon, the Prime Minister plans to use reserved spots to save Religious Zionism at the expense of primary winners.

Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad are reuniting, and the Democrats are welcoming it. MK Gilad Kariv recalls the quarter of a million votes that were wasted in the previous elections and calls for increasing voter turnout, especially in the Arab society.

The Likud party gained 2 additional mandates in the Channel 13 poll, but Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party grew even further. Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein failed to cross the electoral threshold, and the mandates previously held by Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel were redistributed between the political blocs.

Amit Halevi, pushed to the 33rd spot on the Likud list, insisted that "getting the 19th spot in Likud is not losing," but in an interview on 103fm, he got into a sharp confrontation with Ron Koffman regarding reserved spots, Gideon Sa'ar, and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Yashar! party with Eisenkot has filed a petition with the Central Elections Committee demanding the removal of dozens of posts from Netanyahu's account, alleging prohibited use of IDF soldiers and operational footage. The party notes: Likud itself previously demanded a ban on such use in campaign propaganda.

Brigadier General (res.) Dadi Simhi calls for party unity and hopes for a broad government of 70–75 Knesset members. He confirmed talks with Ayelet Shaked and other figures, warning that without consolidation, "everyone will fall off the cliff."

MK Moshe Saada stated that Likud lost 6–8 mandates due to the draft law and expressed confidence in his ability to win them back. He also supported the party's reserved spots system, criticized the Attorney General, and praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security management.

Nir Hefetz, former spokesperson for the Prime Minister, estimates that Benjamin Netanyahu may reserve a spot for his son on the Likud list. At the same time, he claims that the primary results are mainly 'damage control.' In his assessment, the list appeals primarily to those who already support Netanyahu anyway.

Unity Party chairman Gilad Erdan responded on 103FM radio to Transportation Minister Miri Regev's accusation, explaining that his departure from Likud was driven by ideological differences and a lack of choice.

Matan Kahana claimed that at this stage, mergers in the 'change bloc' do not increase its power, and estimated that at the moment of truth, the parties will unite behind Gadi Eisenkot. Regarding the results of the Likud primaries, he said: "It is nothing like what Begin dreamed of."

Likud spokesperson Guy Levy expressed confidence in the party's electoral victory, ruled out reserved spots for Gabi Ashkenazi or Yossi Cohen, and addressed concerns regarding party list composition and primary irregularities.

Following the July Maariv publication on the possibility of the ultra-Orthodox-right-wing bloc dissolving: an i24NEWS report reveals that Moshe Gafni discussed with rabbis the possibility of a government led by Gadi Eisenkot and wonders if the price of the alliance with the right justifies the harm to yeshiva students.

An i24NEWS poll conducted following the Likud primaries shows the party rising to 31 mandates. Despite the gain, the coalition bloc led by Netanyahu remains at 58 mandates.

Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, who secured the eighth spot in the Likud primaries, was interviewed on "Five in the Evening" on 103fm, shared his feelings following the achievement, addressed Benjamin Netanyahu's support, and presented his views regarding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox and his political aspirations.

Eizenkot's party rejected Likud's demand to remove the jingle video, claiming it is composed of real footage only. According to them, artificial intelligence was used to write the jingle - and its use was explicitly noted.

Advocate Yonatan Yakubovich, who served as a member of the Herzliya City Council on behalf of the National Unity party, joins Yisrael Beiteinu and expresses support for Avigdor Lieberman: "The leader Israel needs at this time." His joining comes about two weeks after the joining of Lili Ben-Ami.

Following the results of the Likud primaries, opposition party leaders criticized the party's new list. Yair Lapid stated that "Likud needs a rest from power," Naama Lazimi called for them to step down, and Gadi Eisenkot labeled the list as "the October 7th list."

With primaries concluded, the election campaign for the 26th Knesset is entering its final stretch. The schedule includes the submission of final candidate lists, the start of official propaganda, and the general election day on October 27, 2026.

Unity Party Chairman Gilad Erdan criticized the ruling party: "A situation has been created where Likud makes promises and then acts against the public interest due to its alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties."

Political correspondent Anna Barsky reveals the behind-the-scenes of the Likud: the messages the Prime Minister conveyed to Gotliv's "groupies" that caused them to abandon her, David Bitan's survival against all odds, and the secret of the charm that kept Eli Cohen at the top.

The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman gave an interview to 103FM, sharply criticizing the emergence of new political parties and stating that this trend caused the loss of votes in the last elections.

The day after the Likud primaries opens a new struggle at the top of the party: one result is particularly troubling to senior officials, and now pressure is being applied on Netanyahu to use a clause that sparked a storm even before the vote.

The Likud primaries have shaken up the party leadership: Netanyahu has strengthened his position, Nir Barkat is in a difficult spot, and Tali Gotliv has been pushed aside. Experts analyze who truly paid the political price.