Smotrich and Feiglin Discuss Joint Technical Bloc Amid Netanyahu's Push for Right-Wing Unity

Representatives from the Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, held talks this week with members of the Zehut party, headed by Moshe Feiglin, exploring a possible joint run in a technical bloc for the upcoming elections. These discussions took place prior to and independently of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent pressure on Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to unite their factions. Under the proposed arrangement, Feiglin would receive a high spot on the joint list along with additional positions further down.

Earlier today, Netanyahu invited Ben-Gvir and Smotrich to a meeting scheduled for Sunday to discuss their unification, emphasizing in an official statement that "no vote can be wasted, and unity is essential to save the right-wing bloc." However, Otzma Yehudit, led by Ben-Gvir, quickly issued a firm response rejecting any alliance with Religious Zionism, declaring the decision final and that no meetings or talks on the matter would take place.

Instead of a merger between the two right-wing parties, Otzma Yehudit urged Netanyahu to pursue either a full consolidation of all small right-wing factions or to utilize reserved spots within the Likud list for Smotrich. Their goal is to ensure a right-wing victory and the formation of a genuine right-wing government in the upcoming Knesset elections.