Smotrich Eyes Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi for Religious Zionism Party

Following his party's union with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party, Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, is now pursuing Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi to join his electoral list. Sources indicate that Smotrich and Davidi are expected to meet in the coming days to discuss the possibility of Davidi joining the Religious Zionism slate for the upcoming elections. If an agreement is reached, Davidi would likely receive a senior position on the list and a significant role post-election.

Davidi has been on Smotrich's radar for some time, identified as a key figure to broaden the party's appeal beyond its traditional base. Smotrich aims to attract additional voter segments, particularly from the periphery and the traditional right-wing camp. Davidi, a prominent mayor from southern Israel with strong ties to Sderot and the Gaza border region, is seen as a valuable electoral asset. He is also recognized within the national-religious public but is not specifically associated with settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Furthermore, Davidi's potential candidacy could address a perceived lack of ethnic diversity within the party's leadership. Following recent primary results, the top five positions on the Religious Zionism list do not include a Mizrahi (Eastern) representative. Smotrich and his associates are reportedly seeking to diversify the list to appeal to a broader electorate.

Davidi previously had an opportunity to enter the Knesset in the 2021 elections, being placed third on Naftali Bennett's Yamina list. However, he resigned before the Knesset was sworn in and later became a vocal critic of Bennett's decision to form a government with Yair Lapid and the Ra'am party. With the deadline for list submissions approaching, Davidi's potential addition could be Smotrich's next significant move to strengthen his party's electoral prospects.