A Netanyahu Stronghold Is Restless. The Far Right Could Gain.
Kiryat Shmona has long been a bastion of support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, the AP reports. Although the town remains staunchly conservative, there are rumblings of displeasure with Netanyahu's handling of the latest war against Hezbollah, and that could bode poorly for him in Israel's election Tuesday.
Even a small dip in Kiryat Shmona's support — and in that of other traditional strongholds — could spell trouble for him. That dip could instead strengthen far-right parties, which would likely back Netanyahu to remain prime minister but would then have even greater power in a ruling coalition.
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The discontent isn't a single message: some in Kiryat Shmona say Israel should have been even tougher; others say they no longer trust that Netanyahu cares about them.
That split still may not flip the town. Netanyahu is unlikely to lose Kiryat Shmona entirely, even if a small dip in its support could spell trouble.