Acceleration in contacts between Smotrich and Feiglin: discussed running together in a technical block
Representatives of the "Religious Zionism" and "Zehut" parties held talks over the past week in an attempt to reach an agreement on running together. As part of the emerging agreement, Feiglin would receive a high spot on the list. The move began to take shape even before Benjamin Netanyahu's pressure on Smotrich.
Acceleration in contacts. Representatives of the "Religious Zionism" party, led by Bezalel Smotrich, held talks this week with representatives of the "Zehut" party, led by Moshe Feiglin, discussing the possibility of running together in a technical block between the parties.
The conversation between the sides took place before, and regardless of, the pressure Benjamin Netanyahu exerted on Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to unite. As part of the joint run, Feiglin would receive a high spot on the list and additional spots further down.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, together with the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, to a meeting this coming Sunday to discuss their unification. An official statement from the Prime Minister's office stated:
"We must not waste a single vote, we must unite to save the right-wing bloc!"
In contrast, the "Otzma Yehudit" party quickly issued an official statement in response to Benjamin Netanyahu's words:
"The Otzma Yehudit party and the Religious Zionism party will not run together in the upcoming Knesset elections. This decision is final and absolute and will not change under any circumstances."
They further added that the planned meeting would not take place: "Accordingly, no contacts, meetings, or discussions on the subject will be held, neither directly nor indirectly."
Instead of unification between the two parties in the right-wing bloc, the "Otzma Yehudit" party calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"To promote the two correct and realistic alternatives on the table - either the unification of all the fragments of the small parties, or the use of the reserved spots the Prime Minister received in the Likud for Smotrich - in order to ensure a right-wing victory in the elections and the establishment of a true right-wing government."
