Unusually, the chairman has a future not trying to draw seats from his rival to lead a bloc "just not Bibi" • But Lapid does not fall asleep on guard, on the contrary: instead of eliminating Saar he tries to turn him into a Balfour jumper • Insiders talk about a close relationship between the two • Purpose: Unite forces after the election and get rid of Netanyahu
Assault and Torch
Photo:
Elad Gutman, Oren Ben Hakon
After Naftali Bennett's announcement this week that he will not sit in the government headed by Yair Lapid, it seems that the chances of a chairman have zero future are likely to form the next government. The ultra-Orthodox will not come, nor will religious Zionism. Now Bennett, too. To bring him to the pinnacle of his ambitions on Balfour Street in Jerusalem. Not to the side of the protesters, to the side of the tenants. The Joker is none other than Gideon Saar. As the days go by in the campaign, the strength of cooperation between the two is revealed. To bring about the replacement of Netanyahu.
One of the most outspoken parties running in this election is Saar's party, New Hope.
An in-depth analysis of the polls conducted by the various parties shows that 70% of the votes can easily be passed on to support Yair Lapid at the last minute.
These are clear anti-Netanyahu votes that will not support any party that might be suspected of cooperating with the prime minister after the election.
Netanyahu: "Saar and Bennett are lying - they will go with Lapid" // From Facebook
To date, all party leaders running against Netanyahu have tended to go head-to-head against him, in order to concentrate most of the camp's votes, finish close to the Likud's number of seats, from above or below, and automatically become his prime ministerial candidate.
So did Benny Gantz in three election campaigns.
This is what Bozi Herzog did before him.
That's what Tzipi Livni did before them.
Currently, Lapid does not do so.
Despite the large gap between him and the Likud, the Yesh Atid campaign is not trying to attract seats, especially those currently parked in new hope, and to position his status as the leader of the center-left camp and his candidate for prime minister.
To many, the reason for this lies in a secret alliance, probably unwritten or documented, between him and Saar.
The parties deny and explain what appears to be cooperation as a combination of political interests and not a deliberate move from above, however others believe that the connection between the two is closely calculated and from what the electorate of both know.
The same people talk about exchanging messages on WhatsApp between them almost on a daily basis, and about the fact that the two do not need mediation or consultants to pass information between them because the connection between them is direct and close.
Saar: "I will establish a party and I will face Netanyahu" // From Facebook (Archive)
Lapid does not try to attack Saar or deprive him of seats, simply because Saar serves his purpose.
Lapid is aware of the glass ceiling that has been blocking him since he entered the political system.
His character deters many.
Not only his opponents, but also his partners (formerly today) - Bnei Gantz, Boogie Ya'alon and others, warned about this fact in real time.
Netanyahu campaigned against Lapid when he was Gantz's number two, with the understanding that his prominence would keep voters away from a white brush.
The way to break it goes through the collaboration with Saar.
Lapid will bring his own, Saar will bring those who dislike Lapid, and after the election they will unite together.
It is not yet clear which of them will be the first prime minister, but Lapid has already hinted at this collaboration when he said that if Saar is the head of the largest party among them, he will get the premiere.
The full column: Friday in "Israel This Week"