Smotrich Courts Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi for Religious Zionism Party

Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, is reportedly in advanced talks with Alon Davidi, the mayor of Sderot, to potentially join his party's list for the upcoming elections. The two are expected to meet in the coming days to finalize an agreement, which would likely see Davidi receive a senior position on the unified list and a significant role post-election. This move is part of Smotrich's broader strategy to expand the party's appeal beyond its traditional base in the West Bank settlements and attract voters from the periphery and traditional right-wing segments.

Davidi is considered a valuable electoral asset by the Religious Zionism party. As a mayor from the Gaza border region, deeply associated with the resilience shown during conflicts, he is respected by both the national religious and general public. The party is also seeking a prominent Mizrahi (Eastern) figure for its leadership, as the initial primary results did not yield such representation in the top five slots. Davidi's potential addition could address this demographic and regional diversity goal.

This would not be Davidi's first foray into national politics. He was previously placed third on Naftali Bennett's Yamina list in 2021 but resigned before the Knesset was sworn in. He later became a vocal critic of Bennett's decision to form a government with the left-wing and Arab parties. With the deadline for submitting party lists approaching, Smotrich aims to present a broader-than-ever slate.

However, Davidi's potential alignment with a ruling party is not guaranteed, given his recent strained relationship with the current government. Amidst the ongoing war in Gaza and following the 200-day mark since the October 7th attacks, the Sderot mayor has been highly critical of the government's policies and its handling of his city.