While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's effort to unite Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party with Religious Zionism has stalled, an entirely different set of negotiations is underway on the Israeli right, according to a report first published by Amit Segal.
Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich is conducting advanced talks with Moshe Feiglin, leader of the Zehut party, about running together in the upcoming elections under a technical bloc arrangement.
According to details emerging from the negotiations, Feiglin is expected to secure the second position on the joint list, considered a realistic slot for entering the Knesset. The discussions also include the possibility of Zehut receiving the eighth and tenth positions, though this aspect has not yet been finalized between the parties.
Feiglin's Zehut party competed in the 2019 elections. Despite receiving favorable polling during the campaign, the party weakened in the final stretch, garnered approximately three percent of the vote, and failed to cross the electoral threshold required for Knesset representation.
Current polling shows Zehut enjoying support of around one percent of voters. This figure forms the basis for Feiglin's demand for the second spot on any combined list.
The goal of the Smotrich-Feiglin talks is to strengthen the slate and ensure it crosses the electoral threshold. This comes against the backdrop of Ofer Winter's entry into the political race, which has weakened Religious Zionism, with most polls showing the party failing to reach the threshold on its own.
The prime minister was not initially informed about the negotiations between the parties. However, Netanyahu has since learned of the talks and supports in principle the possibility of a union between Religious Zionism and Zehut.
These negotiations are taking place in parallel to Otzma Yehudit's refusal to run on a joint list with Religious Zionism. Ben-Gvir's party has made clear that its decision not to unite with Smotrich is final and absolute, and that no meetings or conversations on the matter will take place.
Smotrich and Feiglin declined to comment specifically on the details of the negotiations or the emerging distribution of list positions. However, both confirmed that talks are underway regarding potential mergers ahead of the elections.
