'A home for the Right' - Orlev
Photo: Niv Calderon
Knesset's right-wing factions merge to form new party
Factions comprising National Union-National Religious Party agree on merge, declare birth of new right-wing party intended to appeal to broad voter demographic, including seculars, that will serve as 'political home' for entire right-wing movement. No leader has emerged yet, and no one knows how said leader will be elected
Members of the factions comprising the National Union- National Religious Party met on Wednesday evening and agreed to unite their ranks, merging to form a new right-wing party.
The new party is intended to appeal to a broader range of voters, moving outside the factions' comfort zone to include secular citizens as well.
"We'll put the emphasis on Judaism, Zionism and a Jewish identity," said officials within the fledgling political entity, which will be given a new name.
At present time, however, it remains unclear who will head the new party. Even the method of his or her election remains vague. At Wednesday's meeting the factions voted to dissolve their previous individual codes and agree on a new list of guidelines for the unnamed party.
Another question that remains unanswered is who will elect the party's roster ahead of the general elections, though the process of forming the new party is expected to be completed within two weeks time.
The National Union-NRP is comprised of four right-wing factions – the National Religious Party, Moledet, Tkuma and Achi - and its electoral base is largely made up of settlers and hardliner right-wing voters.
In the last elections the right-wing parties ran separately, coming together only after the campaigns were over. The negotiations for this merge began two months ago, with NRP Chairman Zevulun Orlev saying the factions intended to build a new political home for the right-wing movement in Israel.
