Ram Ben Barak Attributes Yesh Atid Decline to 2023 Government Boycott

Knesset Member Ram Ben Barak, a senior figure in the Yesh Atid party, addressed his fifth-place positioning on the upcoming electoral list and the ongoing crisis within the party during an interview with 103FM radio on Sunday.

The October 2023 Decision

Analyzing the party's significant drop in recent political polls, Ben Barak pointed to the decision made immediately after the October 7, 2023, attacks not to join the emergency coalition government.

Ben Barak stated:

"The most severe damage occurred in October 2023 when we decided not to enter the government as long as Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were in it. The sharpest decline happened then."

He also commented on Benny Gantz's decision to join the wartime cabinet at the time:

"Benny Gantz entered contrary to our advice. We told him to wait two or three days until we could get them out."

Despite the political cost, Ben Barak emphasized that he does not regret the decision, arguing that the opposing bloc's 64-seat majority would have neutralized their influence anyway, as seen by the eventual departure of Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot from the cabinet.

Party Relations and Generational Shift

Ben Barak dismissed speculation that his fifth-place spot was linked to his past leadership challenge against party chairman Yair Lapid, describing their relationship as consistently strong despite ideological debates.

Addressing the departure of several veteran lawmakers from the list, Ben Barak described it as a painful but necessary generational transition aimed at rebuilding the party for the future.

Concurrently, Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid told Army Radio that the party is currently navigating the most difficult period in its history, acknowledging that a dramatic contraction of its parliamentary strength was expected.