Smotrich and Feiglin Announce Joint Run Ahead of Elections

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin have officially announced their intention to run together in the upcoming elections under a technical bloc, where each party will maintain its distinct identity. According to the agreement, Feiglin will be placed second on the list, with a possibility of moving if Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, joins. Smotrich intends to retain two "reserved" spots on the list, which could potentially displace incumbent Knesset members. Smotrich had previously cut short a tour in southern Israel due to "significant political developments" before heading to the Religious Zionism headquarters.

The joint statement emphasized that the union was formed out of a recognition that the upcoming elections are critical for the future of the "national camp" and to prevent the loss of right-wing votes. The alliance between Religious Zionism and Zehut is described as the "first connection" in a broader effort to unite forces on the right, leaving room for additional parties and figures to join. The ultimate goal is to form a broad right-wing bloc to translate votes into political power for a strong right-wing government.

Smotrich stated that this is the "first and not the last" connection, urging all right-wing parties and figures to join forces, even if they don't agree on everything, to ensure a strong right-wing government that will safeguard Israel's security, land, and future. Feiglin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for a "new spirit" and a shared vision for freedom and victory, promising that their supporters' votes and values would be fully represented. He called on the public to rally behind the joint list.

Ofer Winter, however, reacted to the "reserved spots" by stating that "Am Israel" represents a new path and is the sole address for those seeking to truly integrate yeshiva students into the IDF, support soldiers and their families, and achieve decisive outcomes in Gaza and other fronts. He asserted that "Am Israel" would not serve as a shield for other parties and that the public desires something different. Yosef Haddad from "Am Israel" added that the party would present new, clean, and combat-ready leaders unaffected by the October 7th events.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the Smotrich-Feiglin union, calling it a correct move to ensure they pass the electoral threshold. He urged Ofer Winter, whose party has not met the threshold in recent polls, to demonstrate his commitment to the right-wing bloc by uniting with Smotrich and Feiglin, stating there is no room for separate runs by parties failing to pass the threshold. Earlier reports indicated Prime Minister Netanyahu was working to facilitate mergers within the bloc to prevent losses, specifically aiming for a Winter-Smotrich merger and a Feiglin-Ben Gvir connection.