Amit Segal, the political commentator for News 12, addressed the union between Hili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel this evening (Tuesday) - and tried to gauge the chances of the two significantly influencing the mandate map ahead of the elections.
""This event is interesting because the accepted perception to this day is that parties that emerge in this bloc are helping Netanyahu. Here it's a little different. Tropper said that Netanyahu needs to go and he won't make up for it with 61 seats - so he's helping Eisenkot," Segal said.
He noted that the Yashar party would have been happy to see Trooper in its ranks. "Eizenkot would have been happy to offer Trooper a high spot on the list and the education portfolio. Eisenkot has no shortage of places to give, and Trooper is a desirable candidate who Bennett and Lapid have also courted for months.
""Trooper didn't want to go with a party that declares that it might rely on the support of Arab parties. He is one click to the right of Eisenkot, one click to the left of Gantz, and two clicks from Erdan and Edelstein, who have not yet decided on a run.".
Segal questioned the number of available votes for which the new parties in the disappointed Netanyahu bloc, who are not leftists, are competing. "The number of seats in the third bloc is more limited than people tend to think, and the number of parties is greater than allowing everyone a living space. This is a preliminary stage and it is very possible that there will be more unions. Gantz and Simchi, for now, do not pass the threshold. Erdan and Edelstein need to make a decision.".
