Former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch Joins Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein's Party

Aliza Bloch, the former mayor of Beit Shemesh, has officially joined the political party led by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein. Bloch, who had considered multiple offers from the "Third Bloc," accepted Erdan and Edelstein's invitation to join their party list, becoming the first to do so. Earlier in June, it was reported that Bloch was exploring entry into national politics, focusing on education and integrating the ultra-Orthodox community into Israeli society. She evaluated several political options, including joining an existing party, affiliating with a new political framework, or running independently, with a decision expected soon.

In recent years, Bloch has been associated with promoting state-influenced ultra-Orthodox educational models in Beit Shemesh, advocating cooperation with the Haredi community rather than confrontation or coercion. She aims to expand this approach to the national level. Having lived in Kiryat Shmona for the past two years, Bloch has deepened her engagement with issues related to the socio-economic gaps between Israel's center and periphery, emphasizing the need to raise peripheral regions' voices in public discourse.

Bloch has held discussions with various political figures, including Benny Gantz, Yuli Edelstein, and Gilad Erdan, as she explores different avenues for her involvement in national politics. Her move signals a potential shift in the political landscape, especially regarding ultra-Orthodox integration and peripheral representation.