Haredi Party Taps Religious Zionist Activist to Lead New Desk

The Haredi party, led by Moti Lightner, is expanding its outreach beyond the ultra-Orthodox community by establishing a dedicated desk for the Religious Zionist sector. Adiel Bar Shalom, an educator and public activist with extensive experience in Religious Zionist institutions, will head this new desk. This move follows internal polls and focus groups suggesting that tens of thousands of Religious Zionist voters feel unrepresented by existing parties. These voters, according to party sources, are right-leaning but are reportedly put off by the support some right-wing parties offer to Haredi factions and by perceived negative impacts on Haredi integration into military service.

The party believes the issue of military conscription could attract this new voter base, who may not align with traditional Religious Zionist parties. However, the party acknowledges that its internal survey data may not fully reflect actual voting intentions. Bar Shalom, who grew up in Beit El and served as an Armored Corps officer, has a background in education and social initiatives, including leadership roles in youth movements and educational institutions. He is also associated with the "Fourth Quarter" movement, which aims to bridge divides within Israeli society, and will temporarily suspend his activities there upon joining the campaign.

As part of the effort to broaden support, Lightner and Dr. Nechumi Yaffe, a candidate on the party's list, are scheduled to visit several communities, including Alon Shvut and Ganei Modi'in, to meet with residents and local activists. Simultaneously, the party is continuing its campaign within the Haredi community, recently launching a street campaign with the slogan "The most important vote of your life." This campaign targets working Haredim and those critical of established Haredi parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Lightner stated that the party's leadership, with the backing of its rabbinical council, has decided to continue its Knesset run based on the positive survey results, particularly a youth survey that reportedly showed the party gaining five mandates among young Haredim. "We are running all the way, we will be the surprise of the elections," Lightner declared, emphasizing a commitment to connect with and represent the Haredi public. The party also announced it has raised four million shekels for the final stretch of the election campaign, to fund election day operations and support rallies.