Rabbi Abergil's Ahi party quits the Knesset race and backs Likud

Ahi, a small party led by Rabbi Abergil, has withdrawn from the race for Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and its leader has told his followers to vote for Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ynet reported that the decision came after an intense pressure campaign that included a conversation with the prime minister, and that the rabbi received a promise from Likud in return.

According to Ynet, Likud pledged to advance legislation that would allow a deputy minister to be appointed on the rabbi's behalf. Shortly after the withdrawal, News.co.il reported that Rabbi Abergil had instructed his students and supporters to cast their ballots for Likud in the coming election.

How the withdrawal unfolded

The reports, all published on the same day, trace a sequence of events over a short period. Political commentator Amit Segal wrote on his Telegram channel that the party was expected to pull out following heavy pressure, which he said included a Zoom call with Netanyahu and a visit by rabbis, which he described as a pilgrimage, to the party's leader.

News.co.il then reported that Ahi would announce its withdrawal within minutes. A later update from the same outlet described the rabbi as having already quit the race and turned his support to Likud.

Ynet reported that a government minister, identified as Minister Kisch, had been sent on the prime minister's behalf to handle the matter. Ynet quoted him taking credit for the outcome, saying: "We prevented the burning of tens of thousands of votes for the right."

Why a small party's exit matters

Israel elects its Knesset through nationwide proportional representation, with voters choosing party lists rather than individual candidates. A party must pass a minimum vote threshold to win any seats. Votes cast for a list that falls short do not translate into representation, and Israeli politicians commonly describe such ballots as "burned" votes.

This is the concern Minister Kisch's remark refers to. From the perspective of Likud and its allies, a small party drawing support from voters who might otherwise back the right-wing bloc, and then failing to cross the threshold, would reduce that bloc's total seats. Persuading such a party to step aside and direct its supporters elsewhere is a familiar tactic in Israeli election campaigns.

The promise of a deputy minister post

In Israel, deputy ministers are junior members of the government who serve under a cabinet minister and are typically drawn from coalition parties. Ynet's account says Likud committed to promoting a law that would make it possible to appoint a deputy minister representing the rabbi. The report does not describe the content of the proposed law, why new legislation would be needed for such an appointment, or who the appointee would be.

The rabbi at the centre of the story

Ynet described Rabbi Abergil as a suspect in serious sexual offences. That characterisation appears only in the Ynet report; the other outlets do not address it. Ynet's account also does not set out the status of any investigation or proceedings, and nothing in the material indicates that charges have been filed.

The reports also differ slightly in how they spell the rabbi's name in Hebrew, which is why English renderings may vary between Abergil and Abergel.

What the reports do not say

• None of the reports quotes Rabbi Abergil or Ahi directly, or explains in the party's own words why it withdrew.
• Ynet's report of a promised deputy minister post is not echoed by the other outlets, and no statement from Likud confirming or describing the commitment appears in the material.
• The reports do not say how much support Ahi had in polls, or whether it was expected to pass the threshold.
• Ynet's description of the rabbi as a suspect in sexual offences is not accompanied by details of the allegations or of any legal process.
• The reports do not give the date of the election itself.