[56710] The Battle Over the Election Date: Netanyahu Pushes for After the Holidays, Shas Insists on September
[56710] The Battle Over the Election Date: Netanyahu Pushes for After the Holidays, Shas Insists on September
The political system is preparing for a decision on the election date, as Likud and Shas are divided on the ideal timing.
The Decision Approaches: The Struggle Over the Election Date
The Israeli political system is in the midst of a decision-making process regarding the date of the next elections, according to reports this morning. According to Amit Segal, Netanyahu is working with full force to hold the elections "after the holidays, not during them," with the Likud party interested in postponing the elections as much as possible to October 20th or 27th.
Conversely, the Shas party holds a different position. As reported in Zirat HaHadashot and Adkunei Politika, Shas is interested in holding the elections on September 15th, just two days after Rosh Hashanah. The reasoning of Shas, as detailed by Dafna Liel, is that this is the "optimal date to get their voters to the polls," due to the fact that yeshiva students and the general public are at that time attending assemblies of inspiration and Selichot.
However, Knesset sources cited by Dafna Liel express doubts regarding the feasibility of the Shas date. According to them, "the sequence required to manage the elections," which includes distributing ballot boxes and counting votes, becomes complex due to the sequence of holidays adjacent to this date.
As of this moment, the assessments are that Netanyahu will make the final decision in accordance with a combination of "security developments and the level of pressure" that will be exerted on him. Political Arena joins the reports that the decision on the matter is approaching rapidly.