Shaked and Edelstein Discuss New Right-Wing Party Amid Broader Political Realignments

Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and former Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein are in talks to form a new political party, signaling a potential realignment on Israel's right-wing political spectrum. Behind the scenes, a group of rabbis from the Religious Zionist community is pushing for this new party to address voters who currently feel politically homeless. The proposed party aims to focus on the issue of equal burden-sharing in Israeli society while explicitly avoiding alliances with Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties.

Simultaneously, former Likud MK Gilad Erdan is working on establishing his own party with a similar emphasis on equal burden-sharing. Although Erdan is currently pursuing a separate path, there is speculation that he, Shaked, and Edelstein could eventually unite under one political roof. The negotiations face challenges, primarily regarding leadership hierarchy, seat allocation, and the future political alignment, whether these parties will join the change bloc or align with Netanyahu's camp, and their stance toward ultra-Orthodox parties.

This development occurs as attention also focuses on a surprising potential alliance between Benny Gantz, Yoaz Hendel, and Dedi Simchi, which could reshape the center-right landscape. The new right-wing party or coalition could become kingmakers in a tightly contested election, holding the balance of power between political blocs. The evolving dynamics underscore the fluidity and strategic maneuvering within Israel's right-wing and center-right political arenas ahead of upcoming elections.