Religious Zionism Party Approves Technical Bloc with Identity Party, Eyes Further Unification

The central committee of the Religious Zionism party officially approved a technical bloc agreement with the Identity party on Sunday evening. This decision also empowers party chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to pursue further mergers ahead of the upcoming elections.

The approval came during a gathering of the party's central committee members, attended by Smotrich, party director-general Yehuda Wald, and municipal representatives from across Israel. Following the agreement with Identity, Smotrich has now set his sights on former IDF General Officer Yoav "Ophir" Winter and his "Am Israel" party as the next target for unification efforts.

"This is a time for unity and responsibility in the national camp," Smotrich stated. "I welcome the final approval of the agreement with the Identity party, as a first step towards additional unifications that must be advanced, out of responsibility for the fate of the national camp and the State of Israel."

Smotrich directly addressed Winter, urging him to "come to your senses, join, and not cause the loss of votes and the rise of the left to power." The party's central committee's approval grants Smotrich an official mandate to continue negotiations for further alliances, with Winter being his next apparent focus.