Sharren Haskel, chairwoman of the Israel First party, told Arutz-Sheva-Israel National News in an interview that her party intends to remain in the race through Election Day, despite polls currently placing it below the electoral threshold.
Haskel made the remarks while submitting the party's candidate list, arriving early in the morning together with other members of the slate.
She said the decision to run independently was made after talks and attempts to advance several political alliances. Haskel said that following consultations with Jonathan Pollard and others, they decided to remain in the race rather than withdraw.
Haskel seeks to position Israel First as a political force that would prevent either of the two political blocs from forming a government without its support. She said the party would seek to push for the formation of a national and Zionist government focused on security, the economy, military service and education, without relying on either haredi or Arab parties.
In the interview, Haskel also discussed talks held with other political figures and frameworks, including Gilad Erdan, Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper. She said numerous discussions took place, but she was unwilling to compromise on the principles she seeks to advance, rejecting the claim that ego was responsible for the failure to complete the various alliances.
Haskel said she had opportunities to join other parties, but doing so would have meant giving up her principles. She described running independently as a difficult struggle, but said she considers it necessary because of her opposition to the existing division into two political blocs.
Regarding the polls, Haskel expressed confidence that Israel First would cross the electoral threshold during the campaign. She pointed to polling data that, she said, had already given her party close to 1% support, as well as its alliance with Ale Yarok, which advocates for the legalization of cannabis, arguing that continuing to promote the party's message would attract additional voters.
Haskel stressed that she is not running for Prime Minister and does not seek to lead a political bloc. Her stated goal is to join a national and Zionist government that, in her view, would pursue right-wing policies and reduce dependence on sectoral considerations.
Haskel also discussed her partnership with Jonathan Pollard, whom she described as someone who paid a heavy personal price because of his Zionist beliefs. She said Pollard is involved in Israel First's activities, takes part in private home meetings and grassroots campaigning, and provides support to her and the party.
Haskel also explained the alliance with the Ale Yarok party, saying she wants it to focus on addressing post-traumatic stress among those affected rather than solely on cannabis. She said Israel has a large number of people who are not receiving adequate treatment, including soldiers dealing with psychological distress following their service.
According to Haskel, Ale Yarok activists bring experience in assisting people who have faced difficult circumstances, and she wants to leverage that knowledge in the party's activities. She said the party aims to promote treatments and medications for people suffering from post-traumatic stress, as well as examine treatments and clinical trials used, in her words, in the United States and elsewhere.
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