How Haredi parties mastered Israeli politics
The 25th Knesset dissolved on July 17, and while polls differ sharply over the balance between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and its opponents, most surveys leave neither side with much room to spare.…
Assessment
As Israel heads toward another election, the persistent outsized influence of Haredi parties, Shas and UTJ, is once again on display despite their relatively small seat share. The core tension is that these parties do not aspire to lead but wield decisive power when the main blocs are deadlocked. The outcome of the Oct. 27 election will likely hinge on whether either major bloc can avoid needing them for a coalition.