Netanyahu, Gantz locked in election stalemate
Cautious optimism for Gantz
A feeling of cautious optimism swept across a modest crowd of Blue and White Party supporters as they watched exit polls broadcast simultaneously on Israel’s three major television channels at the party’s election night headquarters in Tel Aviv.
At the second time of asking this year, the forecast showed Blue and White recording between 32 and 34 seats, the largest party in the Knesset in two of the three polls. While a few campaigners applauded and hugged, others started evaluating potential coalition scenarios.
Unlike the last time Israel went to the polls just over five months ago, a repeat of premature victory celebrations on stage by Blue and White’s leading quartet in the hours following the exit polls looked improbable. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz was only set to address supporters after 1 a.m.
“We are encouraged [by the exit polls],” Blue and White’s Avi Nissenkorn, placed fifth on the party’s list, told Channel 13. “We are truly striving for a government where we put the public and Israel above all else. We want a stable government that will act on behalf of the majority. We will wait to see the true results.”
Adopting the “gevalt” tactic now implemented by parties across the political spectrum, Gantz and co-leader Yair Lapid spent much of election day warning of low turnout and persuading voters to head to the polling station – and only then to the beach to enjoy the mid-September sun.
While party leaders emphasized throughout the campaign that electoral success or failure would likely be decided by their ability to motivate supporters to vote for the second time this year, fears of voter apathy surprisingly proved unfounded as voting figures were ultimately expected to be similar to April’s turnout of 68.41%.
“I call upon all Israeli citizens to go and vote according to their conscience,” said general-turned-prime minister hopeful Gantz, placing his blue envelope in the ballot box alongside Revital in their home town of Rosh Ha’ayin. “I recommend voting Blue and White, but I
respect any decision. The most important thing is that you all fulfill your primary civic duty. Today, we are voting for change.”
After voting, Gantz joined campaigners at Blue and White’s election day situation room, warning that turnout was low in likely Blue and White strongholds and calling for a late increase in campaigning efforts in the field. He then continued to meet with the public at Haifa’s busy Grand Canyon Mall.
Lapid headed straight to Tel Aviv beach after voting, seeking to persuade sunbathers to take a break from the heat and fulfill their civic duty too.
“We are receiving reports from all over the country that Bibi is succeeding to get people out of their houses [to vote],” Lapid said. “If Bibi has one more mandate than us, another government will be formed here with Smotrich, Litzman and Ben Gvir – a government of blackmail and racism. So if you want there to be a good government here, there’s no time to go to the beach – go to vote.”
In the latter stages of Blue and White’s campaign, the party has promised, if elected, to build a broad, secular coalition without extreme voices from both ends of the spectrum. Gantz has detailed his plans to form a majority with Labor-Gesher, Yisrael Beytenu and a post-Netanyahu Likud.
Yet, as Israelis are well-aware following April’s elections, the speeches and declarations made on Tuesday night will likely prove far from conclusive. Indeed, few would have predicted the unprecedented scenario of the Likud Party failing to form a government and the nation returning for a second bite of the electoral cherry.
The next – but certainly not final – chapter in this turbulent, extended election season is set be written in Jerusalem’s Talbiya neighborhood over the coming week as President Reuven Rivlin commences post-election consultations at his official residence with all parties that crossed the 3.25% threshold. •