Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to take several steps to achieve a surge in his power during the electoral battle’s last few days, sources said.
One of these steps is to announce retiring from politics after the end of the next government’s ruling period. His other plan is to benefit from the horror spread due to Coronavirus to reduce the number of Arab voters on election day, scheduled for next Monday.
According to political sources, Netanyahu has been circulating news among his party activists about attracting new groups of voters.
He also called on his right-wing allies to support him on his path and have “more patience, faith, and a commitment to work to achieve the right-wing’s interests in the electoral battle.”
Other sources indicated that the Premier is also planning a surprise for Arab voters on the big day.
In April 2019’s elections, he released a video warning that “Arab voters are arriving in masses to the polls on buses funded by European parties in order to bring down the right-wing government.”
In September 2019’s elections, he tried to install cameras at the poll stations in Arab towns, fearing fraud.
While in the upcoming March 2 elections, sources say he is planning to broadcast horrific news that Coronavirus is spreading in certain areas, mainly Arab, to intimidate Arab voters and prevent them from reaching the ballot boxes.
In other news, two opinion polls have shown that Netanyahu’s Likud party will overtake Israeli opposition Leader Benny Gantz’s party Kahol Lavan and regain the parliamentary seats.
According to Channel 12, Netanyahu's Likud is expected to win 34 seats while Kahol Lavan is expected to win 33 seats. While a poll by Channel 12 from last week predicted Gantz would win 35 seats and Netanyahu 33.
The third-largest party in both polls is the Arab-majority Joint List, predicted to win 14 seats according to Kan and 13 seats according to Channel 12.
The fourth-largest party according to both polls is the Labor-Gesher-Meretz alliance, projected to win 10 seats according to Channel 12 and nine seats according to Kan.
Ultra-orthodox parties maintain their seats, with Shas predicted to win eight seats in both polls, and United Torah Judaism predicted seven according to Kan and eight according to Channel 12.
Both polls revealed that the Likud is regaining its power, yet Netanyahu will not be able to for his planned right-wing government, and the Blue and White party is losing its popularity.
They indicated that Gants will not be able to for his government unless he agrees to form a government with Avigdor Lieberman and the Joint List together.
However, Lieberman, MP Ayman Odeh, chairman of the Joint List, and other leaders have clearly disagreed to do so.
Arabs say they would support Gantz’s government provided that Lieberman is part of it, and Lieberman stated that he is not ready to engage in a government based on Arab voices.
