MK Sharren Haskel says her newly formed Israel First party could wield outsized influence with as few as six Knesset seats, seeking to force a broad Zionist coalition that excludes haredi and Arab parties. She resigned from the coalition after legislation freezing arrests of haredi draft evaders and launched the party as a home for right-leaning voters who feel unrepresented. Haskel rules out cooperation with Yair Golan and a return to Likud while promising hawkish security and economically liberal policies.
Haskel: 'Israel First' Could Be Kingmaker With Just Six Knesset Seats
MK Sharren Haskel speaks to The Jerusalem Post, July 28, 2026. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
MK Sharren Haskel, leader of the newly launched Israel First party, told The Jerusalem Post that winning as few as six Knesset seats could allow her to reshape Israel’s next government ahead of the October 27 elections.
Coalition Strategy
Haskel said Israel First would seek to build a small but pivotal bloc that forces cooperation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp and opposition factions led by figures such as Gadi Eisenkot. Her stated aim is to enable a broad Zionist government without relying on either haredi (ultra-Orthodox) or Arab parties.
“I want to build a bloc of six mandates that will not allow Netanyahu to build a bloc with the ultra-Orthodox and will not allow Eisenkot to build a bloc with the Arabs,” Haskel told The Jerusalem Post. “I’m not in the pocket of either of them, and I’m going to force both of them at the end of the day to sit together.”
Why She Resigned
Haskel resigned from the government earlier this month after the Knesset passed legislation that freezes the arrests of haredi draft evaders. She said she could no longer support the coalition’s direction and had become a vocal critic of measures she says encourage draft evasion amid the IDF’s manpower challenges.
MK Sharren Haskel speaks to The Jerusalem Post, July 28, 2026. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Partners and Exclusions
Haskel stressed she would consider alliances only with those willing to join a broad Zionist government and to sit alongside Netanyahu if necessary. She explicitly ruled out cooperation with Democrats party leader Yair Golan, citing past remarks she says damaged the IDF’s reputation, and she rejected returning to Likud, saying the party is no longer the one she once knew.
Policy Platform
Haskel described Israel First as a right-leaning party that combines a hawkish stance on security with economically liberal policies: lower taxes, reduced regulation, and less bureaucracy. She positioned the party as a new political home for voters on the Right who feel politically homeless and promised a focus on infrastructure projects and practical governance.
Context and Next Steps
Her resignation and party launch come amid wider talks among right-wing figures about new party initiatives ahead of the elections; names mentioned in connection with alternative lists include former UN ambassador Gilad Erdan and Likud MK Yuli Edelstein. Haskel said she plans to recruit right-leaning figures and voters who prioritize security and economic freedom ahead of what she called a critical election.
Photo: MK Sharren Haskel speaks to The Jerusalem Post, July 28, 2026. (Credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
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