Everything on Hold, Awaiting Decisions: The Political System's Time Bombs

While we are all trying to survive the July-August heat, our politicians have fallen in love with podcasts. They feel it is friendly and non-threatening. Sitting in a small, air-conditioned studio, what could possibly happen? It turns out, quite a lot.

Benjamin Netanyahu got himself into trouble in a podcast conversation regarding his daughter, Noa, whom he says he sees occasionally on holidays. Gadi Eisenkot tried to present empathy when he said that he understands bereavement and that in his visits as Chief of Staff to bereaved families, he should have spoken less. Itamar Ben Gvir said he was offended by Netanyahu, and Naftali Bennett attached a time bomb to his own leg when he said: "I am committed to bringing victory, and I don't care about my position."

They love podcasts. Unlike an interview on radio or television, which lasts 5–7 minutes, here there is almost no time limit and they can ramble on to their heart's content. But no podcast will change the fact that the political system is currently on hold.

Everyone is waiting. In the Likud, they are waiting to see if there will be a military action that will cancel the party primaries and transfer the decision into the hands of Netanyahu, who wants a steering committee. In this committee, there will effectively be two members — him and him. Maybe his wife too.

In the right-wing wing, they are waiting for Benny Gantz and Dadi Simhi to decide whether to run, or to see if they can connect Yuli Edelstein and Ayelet Shaked to them, who are waiting for Gilad Erdan to decide. Erdan, unlike them, is not in a rush. He is relatively young compared to the others and has already proven that he has a grip on the ground, when he was elected in the past to the first place in the Likud primaries. Netanyahu was so afraid of him then that he exiled him to the USA.

Erdan maintained the connection with the field and did not leave the party. It would be right for him to wait for the day after Netanyahu in the Likud, and that day is not so far away. If primaries are held and a list is chosen that Netanyahu does not like, he might break the rules and say he is going home, especially if the polls continue to predict only 49–51 mandates for his bloc. He is not prepared for another loss to be recorded in his name. If he still manages to take the reins and assemble the list alone, it is not impossible that he will swallow his pride and offer Erdan a reserved spot at the front, which would position him in a good spot to contend for the leadership.

They are also waiting for Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel to present their list. This will likely happen this week. They feel more confident today, after passing the electoral threshold safely in all polls. Contributing to this, and will continue to contribute, is the gift that keeps on giving — the Religious Zionism, which has become the party of the Haredi-Leumi settlers. This may turn Tropper and Hendel's "Zionist Home" into the lightning rod for the votes of the Mafdal voters in its various incarnations.

And they are waiting — and this is perhaps the most addictive candy in the July-August heat — for the realization of the romance between Yoav Segalovitz and Mansour Abbas. This will break paradigms that should have been shattered long ago, and at the same time will turn Segalovitz into someone walking around with a target on his back. For right-wing propagandists, this will also be the signal for the continuation of the attack. It started with the vile video with Eisenkot and Abbas, and now the puzzle will be completed for them. "We told you," they will shout: vote for Eisenkot or Bennett and you will get a government with Arabs.

It is time that the Likud, who were the first to conduct a romance with Abbas, also understand that it is right to integrate the Arab population, which constitutes more than 20 percent of the country's population. In June 2026, Netanyahu said: "Enough with the boycotts." It is worth it that his actions stand behind what his mouth promises.