PM Netanyahu Makes His Last Offer to Itamar Ben-Gvir

With Election Day for the 22nd Knesset less than two weeks away, on September 17,2019, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is still trying to persuade Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party to drop out of the race, as did the Zehut party, to avoid having tens of thousands of right-wing votes from being trashed.

In exchange for complying with his request, Mr. Netanyahu promises to lower the minimum electoral threshold in the coming term, which will permit the party to enter Knesset in the next election.

The offer was made via persons close to Mr. Netanyahu. However, the very same confidants of the Prime Minister report they believe that Ben-Gvir remains determined to run in the coming race, despite the polls showing his party will once again fail to earn sufficient votes to enter Knesset. They formulated their opinion following a number of meetings between Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu advisors. The last meeting was held in secret between Ben-Gvir and Natan Eshel.

In Likud, the fear remains that if Otzma Yehudit does not enter Knesset, three to four mandates for the right-wing will be lost and this will make it increasingly difficult for Mr. Netanyahu to form a coalition of at least 61.

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Naftali Bennet feels if the right-wing camp cannot reach 61 to form a majority coalition, PM Netanyahu will turn to Benny Gantz and his Blue & White party, adding he does not see any way the right-wing will reach 61.

הבוקר באולפן ynet: אם לא יהיו 61 מנדטים לימין, האם תהיה פה ממשלת אחדות או שנתניהו מאבד את השלטון? הנה מה שבנט ענה: @naftalibennett pic.twitter.com/JogR6STm9Q

— מורן אזולאי Moran Azulay (@moran_azulay) September 3, 2019

Chairman of the Blue & White party, MK Benny Gantz, promises that following elections, if offered to join a Likud-led coalition without partner Yesh Atid, he will not agree. He remains confident that he will form the next government, not Likud.

עוד מאולפן ynet: שאלתי את בני גנץ האם הוא מוכן להתחייב שביום שאחרי הבחירות ביבי לא יצליח לפרק את כחול לבן ולהרכיב ממשלה עם חצי מהמפלגה. נדרשו פה כמה חידודים לזה: pic.twitter.com/dDSMVDxLhV

— מורן אזולאי Moran Azulay (@moran_azulay) September 3, 2019

An election video from Yahadut Hatorah, reaching out to traditional Yidden, hoping to bring their support on Election Day too. He explains how Lapid and Lieberman are engaged in “incitement campaign” targeting the chareidim.

The video points out the Ministry of Religious Services received 0.14% of the state budget in 2019, which the Public Broadcasting Station received, more than all state religious services combined, despite the fact the station has a poor 2.6% rating.

• Avreichim, yeshivos and schools; are they taking NIS 1 billion that belongs to Yair Lapid?
• Nonsense.
• The real budget is NIS 1.2 billion, about two tenths of a percent of the state budget.
• Do you understand?
• Everything together is about a half of a percent, about the budget of the Ministry of Culture & Sports.
• This is what they are making all the noise about!
• This is what they are taking about, the blackmail and how there is no money for education [because of the chareidim] and hospitals.
• Review the facts and vote based on knowing.

PM Netanyahu boasts the accomplishments of the government and the fabulous state of the economy.

תגידו, אתם השתגעתם? pic.twitter.com/jvzZtwGHzi

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 3, 2019

This Blue & White ad targets Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz for backing conversion therapy to bring back members of the toeiva community to a normative lifestyle.

אל תשכחו לאיזה שר חינוך אתם שולחים את הילדים שלכם היום. pic.twitter.com/3pwACuHEgM

— המחנה הממלכתי (@Kachollavan19) September 1, 2019

Yair Lapid shows the difficulties encountered by ‘atzmaim’ in Israel, people who are independently employed, forgotten by state agencies regarding sick days, accidents and more.

המדינה הפקירה את העצמאים. אנחנו נדאג להם. pic.twitter.com/CPuRDgTazM

— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) September 3, 2019

PM Netanyahu brings US President Donald Trump, who tells the public “vote for him” as President Trump calls Netanyahu “a great prime minister”.

הנשיא טראמפ: ״נתניהו – אין כמוהו. הוא סמל עולמי ומנהיג נהדר לישראל״ pic.twitter.com/HCGPSQi79I

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 3, 2019

Betzalel Smotrich tells voters, “there is no other way” other than voting for the Yemina party headed by Ayelet Shaked.

למרות זאת כשנכנסתי לתפקיד הוריתי למצוא פתרון טכנולוגי והוא אכן נמצא ובע"ה מאחרי החגים גם ביו"ש ניתן יהיה לשם בערך צבור (אבל בלי כפל הנחות).

אם ההתיישבות באמת חשובה לך הגיע הזמן להחליף את תמונת הנושא. קח הצעה: pic.twitter.com/2SRbPUN2iI

— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) September 3, 2019

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)