Although there still uncertainty as to whether early elections will be called, what is already clear is that it will generate more harm than good for Israeli politicians. When the snowball starts rolling, it will be unstoppable.
• Kulanu: Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's chances of keeping his job in the next government are slim. If his party fails to maintain its current strength in the Knesset, as the polls suggest, this will make his return to the ministry even less likely.
• Yisrael Beytenu: Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has gotten a new lease on his political life upon becoming defense minister. This was his dream come true and he is a very happy camper, enjoying every moment of the top secret briefings with defense officials and his visits at army bases. It is doubtful he would get to keep his job after the elections, especially since his party is projected to take a beating.
• The ultra-Orthodox parties: In the current Knesset, they have received practically everything they wanted when it comes to legislation and budgets, and they are about to get even more. What's more, the reforms that were passed by Yesh Atid in the previous government have been rolled back entirely.
• The Zionist Union: The joint ticket on which the Labor party and Hatnuah ran on in 2015 is expected to get only 10 seats. Many are talking about the need to oust Labor Chairman Avi Gabbay to avoid an electoral disaster. The last thing the Zionist Union needs right now is another election.
• The MKs that will go home: Every new Knesset has a freshman class of about 40 MKs. That means that about a third of the incumbent MKs will not be able to serve out their Knesset term. The backbenchers have already began showing signs of angst – panic, even – after realizing they are heading home.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: He is one of the few who might actually benefit from calling early elections (along with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid). According to the polls, his Likud party is projected to garner 34 seats. If this becomes a reality, he could claim that the people have given him a new mandate to stay in power until his legal troubles are over.
