Tzvi Blitz Leaves Religious Zionism Party After Deputy Mayor Dismissal, Joins Gilad Erdan's Unity Party
Tzvi Blitz, a member of the Petah Tikva city council, recently left the Religious Zionism party to join Gilad Erdan's new Unity party. Sources within the Petah Tikva municipality revealed that about two months before his departure, Blitz was removed from his position as deputy mayor by Mayor Rami Greenberg. This dismissal reportedly preceded his decision to leave the party. Blitz allegedly tried to enlist the help of Religious Zionism chairman Minister Bezalel Smotrich to prevent his removal, but Smotrich and other senior figures in the national-religious community supported the mayor's decision, emphasizing the importance of honoring prior agreements. Critics within the municipality suggest Blitz's resignation was influenced by losing his deputy mayor role and its associated salary.
Blitz strongly denies these claims, attributing his resignation to the party's stance on the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews. He stated that the party shifted from insisting on universal military service to endorsing exemptions for Haredim, which he could no longer accept. Blitz explained that he engaged in numerous discussions with party leadership to change this policy and even participated in internal party elections to influence candidate selection. However, after the party marginalized members opposing the new line, he chose to leave. He expressed confidence that Erdan's Unity party will genuinely promote right-wing policies of equal burden-sharing within a broad Zionist government, grounded in the authentic values of Religious Zionism and resistant to political coercion.
Blitz had been a member of the Jewish Home party's central committee for about 20 years and joined the Religious Zionism central committee two years ago before resigning. His departure marks a significant shift in local political dynamics in Petah Tikva and reflects broader tensions within the national-religious political camp regarding the conscription debate.
