Israeli Right-Wing Party Merger: Feiglin Rejects Generals

Moshe Feiglin, who announced Tuesday evening a political merger with Bezalel Smotrich under the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party banner, appeared on Israel Defense Forces Radio Wednesday morning and delivered mixed messages about reserve Colonel Ofer Winter. While criticizing the decorated officer, Feiglin also invited him to join the newly merged party.

"We've had enough of generals," Feiglin said during the interview. "The fact that someone is accomplished in the military doesn't mean he brings something new to the table. If he wants to do that, he should join us, I'm willing to give up the number two spot on the list for him." The comments came after Smotrich himself had called on Winter to join the party during an appearance on Channel 14's Patriots program Tuesday night.

In a joint statement, Feiglin and Smotrich framed their merger as the beginning of a broader consolidation effort. "The connection between Religious Zionism and Zehut (Identity) is the first step in a process to unite forces in the national camp," they said. "The agreements preserve the possibility of additional parties, forces and individuals from the right joining. The goal is to form the widest possible right-wing bloc, to unite the fragmented parties in the national camp and ensure that right-wing votes translate into political power that will enable the formation of a strong right-wing government."

Smotrich emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election. "The coming elections are critical for the future of the national camp and the future of the State of Israel," he said. "Security, settlement, the judicial system, preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and our ability to continue leading the major changes that the State of Israel needs, everything hangs in the balance. At a moment like this, you need to take responsibility. Not just for your own party, but for the entire camp. Our responsibility is to unite forces, expand the camp, and not allow right-wing votes to be wasted."