Netanyahu Makes Far-Right Alliance Ahead of Israeli Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forged on Wednesday a new far-right alliance for the upcoming parliamentary elections on April, 9. For Netanyahu, the goal of this coalition is to acquire followers form late anti-Arab rabbi, Meir Kahane.

RELATED:
'Trump' Stumps for Netanyahu in Reelection Billboard Ad

Benjamin Netanyahu's party Likud announced the deal with the ultranationalist Jewish Home party which solidifies an important potential right-wing coalition. According to polls, Likud will win the majority of parliamentary seats, getting a position of important governability and heading a right-wing and religious coalition of parties that are similar to Netanyahu's.

However, the polls also show that a possible alliance between two centrist opposition politicians could change the balance. An alliance between former armed forces chief Benny Gantz, who leads the Resilience Party, and ex-finance minister Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid faction might bring about a higher level of competition. Allegedly, Lapid and Gants met on Wednesday, which has started speculation that they could form an alliance too.

Against this coalition, Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to give two ministerial positions to Jewish Home, under the condition of forming an alliance and merge with the Jewish Power party, whose leaders have portrayed themselves as Kahane's successors.

After talks with the Prime Minister, the Chairman Jewish Home accepted the deal, and its central committee ratified it. Jewish Power had already agreed to the merger, saying it would "prevent the establishment of a leftist government, God forbid".

This alliance can help both far-right parties to survive because according to polls both parties might not get enough votes on their own to even get a single seat in the Knesset, the Parliament.

Netanyahu's political future has also been clouded by three corruption cases. The attorney-general is weighing whether to accept police recommendations to indict him over allegations he wrongfully accepted gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensed favors to try to win favorable coverage in an Israeli newspaper and a website. He says he is a victim of a left-wing witchhunt to topple him.