Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit Negotiate Unity Deal

Negotiations between Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party and Moshe Feiglin's Otzma Yehudit party have reached a significant breakthrough, with Feiglin agreeing to take the second spot on the joint list. However, a final agreement has not yet been reached due to ongoing disputes over additional key positions.

Feiglin is reportedly demanding spots 8, 10, and 12 on the unified slate, a demand that Smotrich has so far rejected. If these remaining gaps can be resolved, the merger could be finalized very soon, potentially within the day. Former MK Michael Ben Ari is also involved in the discussions, though his position remains unclear.

The talks, which took place overnight in Karnei Shomron, represent a crucial step towards consolidating right-wing parties ahead of the upcoming elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been actively encouraging such alliances, emphasizing the need to prevent wasted votes and strengthen the right-wing bloc.

Netanyahu recently commented on the importance of unity, stating that there is still about a week for parties to reach agreements. He specifically addressed the friction between Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, urging Ben-Gvir to act responsibly and prioritize unity, drawing a parallel to Smotrich's past actions when roles were reversed.

Earlier, Ben-Gvir had expressed frustration, accusing Netanyahu and Smotrich of orchestrating a public call for unity with him as a tactic to pressure Feiglin in his negotiations with Smotrich. Ben-Gvir had previously stated his intention to run independently.