The political center has become one of the most talked-about arenas. New parties are being established, candidates are entering the picture, and there is a feeling that whoever manages to attract the voters of the center will hold the key to forming a government • But the data, what can be done, tells a more complex story // Commentary by Zuriel Sharon, CEO of Direct Falls
In recent months, the political center has become one of the most talked-about arenas in the election campaign. New parties are being established, new candidates are entering the picture, and there is a feeling that whoever manages to attract voters from the center will hold the key to forming the next government.
But the data, let's face it, tells a more complex story.
According to the Direct Polls survey, the pool of undecideds currently in the political center stands at only about 7 to 8 seats. This is a number that cannot be ignored, but it is significantly smaller than the way it is sometimes presented in public discourse.
The reason for this is that this is not a single political group. Within this pool are voters who came from completely different places, with different and sometimes even opposing concerns.
Voters from the soft right want to know that their vote will not ultimately lead to a partnership with the left and the Arab parties. On the other hand, voters from the center-left want to know that their vote will not automatically be used to continue Netanyahu's tenure in a "narrow plus" government, in partnership with the haredi parties.
The question that concerns many of them is not only "Who represents me?", but also "What will happen to my vote after the elections?""
Added to this is another problem: Most of the players trying to build political power in the center today are not new. They all come with a political history, a racist identity, and baggage from the past. Each of them manages to arouse hope in some of the public, but also considerable suspicion in others.
For right-wing voters, some candidates are seen as too close to the other camp, and for center-left voters, some are seen as potentially compromising too much with Netanyahu and his natural partners. Therefore, when the idea of a connection between the camps arises, many voters do not necessarily see it as an advantage, but rather fear that the other side will gain too much influence.
This is why centrist parties are having a hard time rising today. Their challenge is not just to deliver the right message or run a successful campaign, but to convince a divided public that they are capable of protecting its interests even the day after the election.
The political center in Israel exists, but the way to turn it into a significant force is first and foremost through building trust.
If some of them don't make tough decisions, get out of the way, and make realistic strategic connections, they will discover on election day that not only did they not win the campaign - they were simply left out.
