Religious Zionist figures explore a new party with Edelstein and Shaked

Senior rabbis and public figures in the Religious Zionist camp have recently approached MK Yuli Edelstein and former justice minister Ayelet Shaked about helping launch a new political framework. According to people familiar with the talks, the idea is to create a home for national-right voters, coalition disenchanted voters, and religious Zionist voters who do not identify with the party led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Those involved said the initiative is based on the view that there is now a political gap on the right for voters with national positions who do not feel represented by the existing parties. The effort is being framed as an attempt to build a new political house that could bring together voters from the right and center-right ahead of the next election.

Over the past few months, the names of former minister Moshe Kahlon and former ambassador to the United States and the United Nations Gilad Erdan were also raised. But according to some of the sources, Erdan has not decided whether to return to politics and has been delaying a final answer. Kahlon is no longer part of the contacts and is, for now, off the table.

Other possible additions are also being examined, including attorney Shvut Raanan, who until recently was part of the Reservists Party and announced her departure last week shortly before its primaries. Another potential link is with Yoez Hendel, the Reservists Party chairman, who is currently serving in reserve duty. Despite the conversations, the sources stressed that no final decision has been made on forming a new party. Edelstein and Shaked did not respond to the report.