Shaked and Edelstein Explore Joint Party as Right-Wing Political Realignment Emerges

Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and former Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chair Yuli Edelstein are engaged in behind-the-scenes talks to form a new political party. This initiative is supported by a group of rabbis from the Religious Zionist community aiming to create a party that addresses the issue of equal burden-sharing in Israeli society while refusing alliances with Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties. The emerging party seeks to appeal to voters who currently feel politically unrepresented.

Simultaneously, former Likud MK Gilad Erdan is working independently to establish his own party focused on the same principle of equal burden-sharing. There is potential for future cooperation among Shaked, Edelstein, and Erdan under one political roof. These developments occur amid broader political negotiations involving Benny Gantz, Yoaz Hendel, and Dedi Simchi, who are also considering a surprising right-wing alliance.

Key obstacles to these right-wing party mergers include disputes over leadership order and seat allocation, as well as uncertainty about whether these parties will align with the Netanyahu bloc or the opposition "change bloc," and their willingness to cooperate with ultra-Orthodox factions. The new parties could become kingmakers in a tightly contested election, holding significant sway over coalition formations.

The political realignment reflects ongoing shifts within Israel's right-wing spectrum, with religious Zionist leaders pushing for a fresh political home that balances nationalist values with social equity concerns, particularly regarding military and civic duties.