Religious Zionist parties unite ahead of elections
National Union and Habayit Hayehudi-New National Religious Party announce they will run together under joint platform in next elections
The National Union party and the Habayit Hayehudi-New National Religious Party announced Wednesday they will unite and run under a joint platform in the next Knesset elections.
The announcement was made in a festive press conference but tensions were felt in the room. It has yet to be decided who will head the list and the parties have not reached an agreement on its makeup.
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Primaries are set to take place on November 6.
Prior to the conference, sources at Habayit Hayehudi said that many details still had to be worked out.
United entity (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
The New National Religious Party was represented by Rabbi Zalman Melamed while Habayit Hayehudi was represented by Rabbi Eitan Eiseman.
MK Yaakov Katz said that a united list could land the new entity 15 Knesset seats. "The prime minister is a bit concerned but we will help him build a healthy society and healthy politics and will serve as a pillar for the next government."
MK Zvulun Orlev said, "A unified list is a vital and strategic step without which we are paying a dear price. The public does not understand the differences between us."
Naftali Bennett, one of the aspiring candidates for the party's leadership said, "Religious Zionism was on the verge of extinction. People left for the Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu. Even if we don't agree on everything, we agree on most issues. We have one task and that is to restore the Jewish soul."
Moran Azulay is a Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth correspondent
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