Religious Zionism Backs Netanyahu, Calls for Broad Coalition

President Yitzchak Herzog will open the round of consultations with parties elected to the Knesset tomorrow (Wednesday), ahead of assigning the mandate to form a government. The first to arrive at the President's Residence will be the Religious Zionism faction at 5:00 PM, which will recommend Benjamin Netanyahu.

Alongside support for Netanyahu, who heads the largest bloc, representatives are expected to present a firm call to parties from the center and Zionist left to set aside the "anyone but Bibi" boycott and join a broad coalition.

"Enough with the boycotts. The time has come for a broad Jewish government that will combine forces for the good of the state, and not continue the cycle of hatred and mutual disqualifications," party representatives are expected to declare at the President's Residence, according to what was conveyed. The party emphasizes that the central condition for such a partnership is maintaining a clear Jewish-Zionist character.

The demand to establish a broad government specifically from one of the most ideological and hardline factions in the right-wing bloc marks a significant shift in tone in the political system. While political boycotts have paralyzed the Knesset in recent years, Religious Zionism is attempting to present an alternative of stability in the face of heavy security and economic challenges.

Meanwhile, the Shas party also decided today to recommend Netanyahu to the president. The decision was made by the Council of Torah Sages following Netanyahu's explicit commitment to arrange the status of draft deferment for yeshiva students. Last night, MKs Michael Malkieli and Yinon Azulai consulted at the residence of the chairman of the Council of Torah Sages, HaRav Moshe Maya shlita.

Alongside the official recommendation, Shas sent a sharp attack against the opposition bloc and left-wing parties. "The hypocrisy of the left-wing parties cries out to heaven," the movement's statement said, "after they led an unprecedented campaign of defamation, slander and persecution against the chareidi sector and Torah learners."

Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement today attacking the Change Bloc over hypocrisy on the chareidi draft issue. "For 4 years we saw unbridled incitement against the chareidi sector, morning and evening, by the media and the left-wing bloc," Netanyahu wrote. "The hypocrisy we now see cries out to heaven — suddenly it's no longer a 'draft-dodging law' but a 'soft draft law,' suddenly they're no longer 'parasites,' 'draft dodgers,' 'destroyers of the state,' but receive a clean slate."

Netanyahu emphasized that "the only ones who acted and will act to arrange the status of Torah learners so that anyone who learns Torah can continue to learn Torah according to law are the Likud and the right-wing bloc." The statement comes against the backdrop of the political deadlock created after the election results, as the Change Bloc struggles to complete 61 mandates without the support of the chareidi factions.