The Comeback of Ayelet Shaked? A New Political Move on the Right

A renewed attempt to establish a new political framework on the Right, with Ayelet Shaked at its center: a group of public figures, rabbis, and political activists is working to establish a list that will appeal to the national-religious public not identified with the Haredi-Leumi wing, alongside traditional voters and right-wingers who feel they currently have no clear political home. As part of the move, the joining of several figures from religious Zionism is being examined, and in the past, contacts were also held with Yuli Edelstein, who eventually chose to join Gilad Erdan.

Power Struggles in the Likud

Among the names being examined as part of the move are Knesset member Moshe Solomon, publicist and lawyer Nadav Haetzni, attorney Shavut Raanan, and Deputy Head of the Samaria Regional Council Dudi Ben Zion. The name of Rabbi David Stav, chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, is also being examined as a candidate for the position of Minister of Religious Services.

Behind the move stands a group of public figures, including Rabbi Benny Kalmanzon. Unlike previous attempts, this time the initiators seek to build an independent framework and not rely on existing religious Zionist parties. They have at their disposal a registered party named "LeYamin Tzion" ("To the Right, Zion"), through which it will be possible to submit the list to the Knesset.

Building a New Political Home

The renewed approach to Shaked comes after a different direction was examined in recent months, with her and Edelstein at its center. At the same time, options were examined to add additional figures and create a framework that would appeal to a wider public than the classic core of religious Zionism.

The organization relies on in-depth polls conducted recently that examined the level of satisfaction among religious Zionist voters with existing political representation. According to those involved, the data indicate potential among the more moderate parts of religious Zionism, alongside a traditional and Zionist public that currently does not find a clear political framework fitting its positions.

The Big Test: The Electoral Threshold

The main challenge for the initiators is creating a political force capable of passing the electoral threshold. Therefore, one of the questions being examined is the possibility of connecting with additional figures identified with what is called the "third bloc".

Sources familiar with the contacts estimate that at this stage, a connection with Tropper may yield the most significant effect. However, those same sources note that he will find it difficult to take a political risk if he is not convinced that the move significantly increases the total number of mandates. Simultaneously, they estimate that Tropper may prefer to wait for developments in the "third bloc" and examine a future connection with Naftali Bennett or Gadi Eisenkot.

On the other hand, the organizers argue that the advantage of Shaked lies in her ability to bring audiences that will not necessarily go with Bennett or Eisenkot: more right-wing voters and a traditional public seeking a Zionist framework but not interested in a Haredi-Leumi party.

"The Second Zionist Revolution"

The initiators seek to position the move as an attempt to rebuild the Zionist agenda. In this context, they speak of what they call "the second Zionist revolution" — a series of reforms on core issues such as a constitution, mandatory core studies, religion and state relations, the economy, and the structure of government. Their premise is that significant reforms in these areas can only be carried out within the framework of a government that is not dependent on the Haredi parties.

Ultimately, the big question is whether Shaked will indeed decide to head the move, and whether around her name it will be possible to build a framework that succeeds in connecting different parts of religious Zionism, the traditional public, and the state-oriented Right.