Goldknopf and Bennett positioned to influence post-election coalition talks

Political assessments published on Sunday suggest that Yitzhak Goldknopf and Naftali Bennett hold the decisive leverage for Israel's next government.

The analysis centers on Agudat Yisrael, the three-seat faction led by Goldknopf, and the potential role of Bennett in forming a stable coalition. Both figures could influence the outcome as the country prepares for elections.

In August, Maariv reported that Agudat Yisrael was exploring cooperation with Gadi Eisenkot. This followed internal friction within United Torah Judaism regarding the haredi military draft and relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rabbi Dov Lando also expressed reservations about maintaining the commitment to the Likud-led bloc.

Goldknopf faces a challenge in that his voters generally identify with the Right. Assessments indicate that supporting an opposition-led government could push some of his supporters toward Likud or Otzma Yehudit. However, the faction could potentially back a change bloc government in exchange for budgetary agreements, though such a deal might still require support from Arab parties.

If neither major bloc secures the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority, attention turns to Bennett. Some political circles believe he is the only change bloc leader capable of joining a Netanyahu-led government due to his background on the Right. This scenario is considered remote because it would require Bennett to shift his base of support and navigate the makeup of his current party.

Avigdor Liberman has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for such a move, given his history as defense minister in a Netanyahu government. Current assessments, however, hold that personal and political disagreements make this unlikely for Liberman at this time.

Voting begins in less than a day. Political figures are currently reviewing these outcomes, including governments reliant on Arab party support or a return to the polls. These remain scenarios and political assessments rather than finalized agreements between the parties.