Likud looks to lower electoral bar to boost right-wing chances

A push to reduce the electoral threshold is meant to ensure the entry of smaller right-wing parties into the Knesset.

By Jack Gold, World Israel News

Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud political party are making a last-minute push to reduce the electoral threshold, Israel’s Channel 2 reported. The move is aimed at ensuring that the smaller right-wing parties make it into the Knesset.

The news came as Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked broke off from the Jewish Home party and established the New Right. As many as seven right-wing parties are expected to run for the Knesset.

The Knesset will discuss the issue on Sunday.

Member of Knesset Amir Ohana of the Likud, told IDF Radio on Sunday that he fears many right-wing votes will be lost to small parties.

“I am worried that there will be too many right-wing parties and that none of them will pass the votes threshold,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin of the Likud told IDF Radio that “it will be difficult to run a government after the elections with parties that it is doubtful whether there is any difference between them. If we want Netanyahu to continue as prime minister, we must vote for the Likud.”

The vote threshold has been raised in the past with the objective of reducing the number of factions in the Knesset and creating a more stable governing coalition that is not dependent on small parties.

The threshold currently stands at 3.25 percent.