Rabbinic and senior public figures in Israel’s Religious Zionist camp have recently approached Likud MK Yuli Edelstein and former justice minister Ayelet Shaked about helping build a new political framework, according to a report by Walla. The effort is aimed at national-conservative voters, disappointed coalition supporters, and religious Zionist voters who do not identify with Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party.
Sources familiar with the talks said the approach reflects a belief that a political gap now exists on the right for voters who hold nationalist views but do not feel represented by the existing parties. The idea under discussion is a new “political home” that could unite audiences across the right and center-right ahead of the next election.
Over recent months, the names of former minister Moshe Kahlon and former ambassador to the United States and the United Nations Gilad Erdan were also mentioned. However, some of those involved said Erdan has still not decided whether to return to politics and has been delaying a final answer. Kahlon is no longer part of the contacts and has now been ruled out.
Other names are also being considered if the project moves forward, including attorney Shvut Raanan, who recently left the Reserve Soldiers party just before its primary, and Yoez Hendel, the party’s chairman, who is currently serving in reserve duty. Despite the conversations, the people involved stress that no final decision has been made on establishing a new party. Edelstein and Shaked did not respond.
