Politicsdomestic
Netivot Mayor Helps Ahchi Party Withdraw Despite Tensions with Netanyahu
Netivot Mayor Yehiel Zohar played a critical role in facilitating the withdrawal of the Ahchi movement from the Knesset election race. Despite experiencing recent political friction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Zohar exerted considerable pressure on movement associates to step down and protect the right-wing bloc's vote share. During a public gathering, Zohar formally urged Netivot residents to cast their ballots for Likud. This move highlights how local political figures often balance personal or regional grievances against broader national ideological alignments during high-stakes electoral cycles.