Political Strategist Warns: Chareidi Parties Face Growing Threat as Many Yungeleit May Stay Home on Election Day

Political Strategist Warns: Chareidi Parties Face Growing Threat as Many Yungeleit May Stay Home on Election Day

Political strategist Moshe Glesner is warning that the greatest challenge facing the chareidi parties ahead of Israel’s next election may not come from political opponents, but from their own voters, as a growing number of yungeleit reportedly say they are considering staying home rather than casting ballots. Speaking Wednesday on Kol Chai Radio’s “Central Edition” with Avi Blum, Glesner discussed the escalating confrontation between the coalition and Israel’s judicial system surrounding compliance with a High Court ruling involving the State Comptroller. He argued that what was once viewed on the political right as a warning about a constitutional crisis has now evolved into open discussion about defying the court. “If once the right warned about a constitutional crisis, then warned through a constitutional crisis, now the pressure within the right is already talking about non-compliance, about the reality of a constitutional crisis,” Glesner said. He maintained that comments by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and other senior officials reflect more than political positioning ahead of party primaries. “The number one issue today among the right is the judicial system. What once was the war, victory in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, has moved aside. Today, the judicial system is the issue that unites the right,” he said. According to Glesner, fears that a clash with Israel’s High Court would alienate centrist voters have proven unfounded. Instead, he argued that support for judicial reform has broadened significantly. “Today, even groups that once said the judicial system must be protected agree that there is a serious problem with the judicial system. Even Benny Gantz says reform is needed,” he said. He added, “The radical extremism of the High Court and Gali Baharav-Miara has caused the story of judicial reform to no longer be whether, but how.” Turning to the political outlook for the chareidi parties, Glesner said their primary concern should be motivating their own supporters to vote, particularly amid ongoing disputes over the proposed Basic Law protecting Torah study and legislation aimed at preventing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim. “The first challenge facing the chareidi parties is how they bring their own voters back to the polls,” he said. “I’m seeing surveys in which chareidi voters say they are not planning to vote this time. This isn’t something that appears in only one poll.” Asked how widespread the phenomenon is, Glesner said it extends well beyond a small protest vote. “It isn’t 2%; it’s a double-digit number,” he said, warning, “Anyone who says that in the end the chareidim will vote because it’s embedded in their DNA—that’s not a work plan. That’s a belief that may come true, and it may not.” {Matzav.com}