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On the eve of legislative elections in Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu's Likud is neck and neck in polls with the Blue and White coalition led by Benny Gantz. Former chief of staff but newcomer in politics, it is he who embodies the hopes of change for the opponents of the current Prime Minister.
With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Guilhem Delteil
Throughout the campaign, polls gave the two leading rivals elbow-to-elbow. Benyamin Netanyahu and Likud are credited with about as many seats as Benny Gantz and his centrist coalition, Blue and White. According to opinion studies, none of them will be able to form a coalition with the parties of his political camp.
Like other Israeli army leaders before him, Benny Gantz went from a military career to a political engagement. With a stated objective: to replace the outgoing Prime Minister. And for Yamit Avrahamov, a Blue and White activist, he is the anti-Netanyahu. " He wants to transform the country. He will be more attentive to the people and will be able to answer his problems of daily life: the level of education down, the cost of living. The redistribution of money will be fairer, "says the young woman.
Benny Gantz, the incarnation of change?
Rather than join an existing formation, Benny Gantz chose to create his own party. He wants to embody a real change, a new era. And managed to convince some of the electorate. But despite corruption cases targeting Benyamin Netanyahu , the wear of his ten years in power, Benny Gantz does not stand out in the polls. He is even outpaced by his opponent in terms of personal popularity.
For Gideon Rahat, professor of political science in Jerusalem, it is not an insurmountable handicap. " Netanyahu remains supported by nearly 42 % of the population. But I do not think it's important because in the end, in Israel, we vote for a party, not a candidate, "says the academic.
At least, after the previous elections, Netanyahu had 60 seats out of 120. According to the polls, this time, he should have less than this time. So Lieberman will be the kingmaker. But we face the same problem: Liberman says he will not sit with the ultra-Orthodox but there can be no majority without them.
Gideon Rahat, professor of political science, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem 16/09/2019 - by Guilhem Delteil Play
Liberman, kingmaker
One of the keys to voting for Blue and White will be participation: a high rate will increase one's chances of winning. But the man who has been in the middle of the political scene in recent months and who will certainly be the kingmaker of this election is Avigdor Lieberman . The former minister and former chief of staff of Benyamin Netanyahu has distanced himself from his former mentor. He denounces the concessions made to religious parties. He wants to create a secular coalition between the two main formations, and it is likely that without him no government is possible.
But as it stands, a coalition of Likud and Blue and White seems complicated to create. Benny Gantz rejects the idea of entering a government headed by Benyamin Netanyahu because of corruption charges against the outgoing head of government, and Benyamin Netanyahu insists he wants to create a right-wing coalition, the only way for him to try to stay in power in case of indictment in the coming weeks. Israel is going through an unprecedented political crisis whose outcome remains uncertain.