Members of Israel's Right in talks to form new party as alternative to Likud

A significant political realignment appears to be brewing on Israel's right flank, with senior figures reportedly holding quiet discussions to establish a new party. This nascent movement, informally referred to as "Likud B," is driven by a desire among right-wing politicians, many of whom have experienced friction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to offer a more "statesmanlike" alternative.

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The initiative, informally described as “Likud B,” is being advanced by right-wing figures, many of whom have had strained relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the report.

The stated objective of this initiative, as reported by N12, is to facilitate the formation of a broad governing coalition that can operate independently of extremist factions. This comes at a time when polls suggest a lack of decisive shifts in the Israeli political landscape, making the prospect of a stable government challenging. The potential inclusion of prominent names such as Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, and former UN ambassador Gilad Erdan indicates the seriousness of these discussions.

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The stated goal is to help create a broad government without extremist parties, amid polls showing no decisive shift between Israel’s political blocs.

From the perspective of The Jerusalem Post, this development is particularly noteworthy. The report highlights that the emerging party would not automatically align with either of the current major political blocs, offering a potentially independent stance. However, a central hurdle remains: the identification of a unifying candidate for prime minister. While some favor figures like Naftali Bennett or Gadi Eisenkot, others still lean towards Netanyahu. This unresolved question could impact the new party's clarity of purpose for voters. The involvement of Gilad Erdan, a key figure, is seen as particularly crucial, as he weighs his options between joining this new initiative or positioning himself for a future Likud leadership contest. The timing is also significant, following recent polls indicating Likud's decline in popularity, with Bennett's party running neck and neck.

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The emerging party would not position itself as an automatic “extra vote” for either of Israel’s current political camps, according to the report.