Netanyahu Praises Religious Zionism and Zehut Merger Ahead of Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday welcomed the agreement between the Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party to run on a joint slate in the upcoming legislative elections. Netanyahu has been actively working to unite smaller right-wing factions to prevent vote dispersal and ensure they cross the 3.25% electoral threshold.

"I welcome and rejoice in the important union between Religious Zionism, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin. They have shown national responsibility," Netanyahu stated in a Likud press release. He emphasized the need to "not waste a single right-wing vote."

The alliance comes as Religious Zionism has been hovering around the electoral threshold in recent polls, while Zehut has garnered less than 1%. Zehut failed to pass the threshold in the 2019 elections.

Netanyahu's broader efforts to consolidate the right have faced resistance. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has so far rejected merging Otzma Yehudit with Religious Zionism again. Ofer Winter, a former IDF general who recently launched the Amkha Israel party and is polling at six seats, has also refused the Prime Minister's calls for a joint list.