DEBKAfile
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After filing their slates for the March 23 election by Thursday at 9 p.m. Israel’s parties are are prohibited from making changes. Any mergers must therefore be sealed by then. Although 20 parties are potentially bidding for election, Israel’s fourth in two years, six are likely to drop out over disappointing poll ratings below the 3,75pc threshold, or save themselves by mergers. Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Kachol Lavan, which is one of that group, nevertheless handed in an independent slate on Wednesday.
Although not long ago, Labor was considered a goner, it gained high buzz (an estimated 5 seats and counting) under a new leader, Meirav Michaeli, who ordered a primary for a new slate based on strict feminist principles. Listed are two new parties, Likud breakaway Gideon Saar’s New Hope, which polls an estimated 14 Knesset seats; and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai’s The Israelis, which is not expected to survive on its own. merger.
Things to Watch in 2021
(Israel Policy Forum) As this strange and dreadful year comes to a close, there is a heavy dose of uncertainty in the air that goes beyond the intersection of mutating COVID-19 strains and vaccine skepticism. The Knesset dissolved at midnight on Wednesday after seven months of gridlock for yet another Israeli election, the UN this week appointed a new envoy for the Middle East peace process, and next month a new U.S. administration will take office. Without listing the obvious items on everyone’s mind, such as whether President-elect Joe Biden will rejoin the JCPOA or what has to happen for Saudi Arabia to pull the trigger on establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, here are some issues on which to keep a close eye in 2021.