Senior Local Leader Aliza Bloch Joins Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein's New Right-Wing Party

Aliza Bloch, former mayor of Beit Shemesh and a respected figure in local government, has officially joined the new right-wing party formed by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein. Bloch, who had been in advanced talks with several senior politicians, prioritized education in her political agenda. She emphasized that equality in national service begins with education and fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility from a young age, not just at age 18 or through legislation. Bloch highlighted her experience in Beit Shemesh, where she worked to integrate different communities, including the Haredi population, into education, employment, and military service frameworks.

Since the outbreak of the war, Bloch has been spending part of her week in Kiryat Shmona, focusing on strengthening education in northern Israel. As president of YASA, she initiated excellence centers for students and is currently collaborating with the mayor of Netivot and the Ministry of Education to establish a high school for gifted students in science and arts.

Erdan and Edelstein recently announced the creation of their new right-wing party as an alternative to existing right-wing factions, criticizing the Likud party and stressing the importance of IDF service. Erdan expressed his disappointment with Likud, stating he no longer considers it his political home after more than 30 years. Bloch's addition is seen as a significant recruitment for the new party ahead of the 2026 elections, with education as a central focus of her platform.