Netanyahu Weighs Technical Bloc With Religious Zionism Party

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a "technical bloc" with the Religious Zionism party if efforts to unite the national-religious camp fail and the party falls close to the electoral threshold. This move is seen as a last resort to prevent the loss of Knesset seats.

Sources close to Netanyahu revealed that this contingency plan is one reason he has not yet utilized all of his reserved Knesset seats. The proposed technical bloc would aim to secure the mandates for Religious Zionism should it struggle to pass the electoral threshold on its own.

Netanyahu himself is reportedly hesitant about this option, viewing it as an extreme measure. Meanwhile, within the Religious Zionism party, there is disappointment that Netanyahu is not exerting more pressure on other right-wing factions, like that of Itamar Ben-Gvir, to join a broader union.

In parallel, the centrist bloc is reportedly nearing a union between Benny Gantz, Ronen Hoffman, and Yuli Edelstein. Hazi Nechama is expected to leave Hoffman and Edelstein's "Unity" party due to these advanced merger talks. Discussions are also underway to potentially include Yaron Zelekha in this centrist alliance.