Likud signs surplus deal with Religious Zionism; Otzma attacks

The Likud party signed a surplus-vote agreement on Tuesday with Religious Zionism and Zehut, three weeks before the election for the 26th Knesset.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided after consultations that Religious Zionism needs the surplus-vote deal with Likud more than any other party in the bloc, according to the announcement.

The agreement is meant to strengthen Religious Zionism and ensure the party crosses the electoral threshold.

Otzma Yehudit, the party of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, responded by attacking Likud for what it said was a refusal to sign a surplus-vote agreement with Otzma.

The party claimed the refusal is part of an attempt by Likud to shrink Otzma Yehudit and leave Ben-Gvir out of the unity government that Likud is planning to form with Gadi Eisenkot.

"Unfortunately, Likud refused to sign a surplus-vote agreement with Otzma Yehudit, as part of Likud's attempt to shrink Otzma Yehudit and leave Ben-Gvir out of the unity government that Likud is planning with Eisenkot," Otzma Yehudit said in a statement.

The party added that "these are exactly the things that Likud candidate and former Labor MK Eli Goldschmidt said yesterday."

Parties have ten more days to submit surplus-vote agreements to the Central Elections Committee. So far, the parties that have signed surplus-vote agreements are Yashar, which signed with the Democrats, and Yisrael Beiteinu, which signed with Yachad.

Over the years, Shas and United Torah Judaism have regularly signed surplus-vote agreements with each other, and a similar agreement is expected to be signed between the Joint List and Ra'am.

Otzma Yehudit still has the option to sign with Amcha Yisrael, the party of Ofer Winter, which has been approached by the Reservists and Economic List of Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha to sign a surplus-vote agreement with them.