Skip to main content

Why Otzmah Yehudit flamed out in Israeli elections

The decline in support for Otzmah Yehudit, which once again failed to pass the vote threshold to enter the Knesset, was especially notable in the settlements.
Leader of the far right 'Otzma Yehudit' (Jewish power) party Itamar Ben-Gvir waves as he marches with supporters at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem on September 13, 2019. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)        (Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

The results of the March 2 election for the 23rd Knesset attest to the crash of Otzmah Yehudit (Jewish Power), the party that follows the path of Rabbi Meir Kahane, the man who brought ideological racism against Arabs to Israel. It received 19,362 votes, less than 0.5% of the vote. In the September 2019 election the party attracted 83,608 votes, or almost 2%. 

An analysis of March 2 voting at polling stations where in the past large percentages had voted for Otzmah Yehudit indicates that pre-election polls proved to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Grim predictions of the party failing to pass the vote threshold to enter the Knesset combined with President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” to destroy the party's chances. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.