Likud-Religious Zionism Merger Eyed to Prevent Vote Loss

As concerns mount in Israel's right-wing camp that smaller parties may fail to cross the electoral threshold, Coalition Chairman MK Ofir Katz of Likud is calling for dramatic measures to prevent vote loss.

Speaking on Radio Galei Israel with host Matti Tuchfeld, Katz addressed fears of fragmentation among right-wing voters. "All these splinter groups currently in play among right-wing votes, not one of them can remain alone as a separate party," he said. "That will lead to the formation of a Gadi Eisenkot government, of the left with the Arabs and Lieberman. The right-wing parties are handing power to the left with the Arabs on a silver platter, it's simply insane."

Katz warned of the consequences of such a scenario: "The left's plan is already ready. There will be a government here with Tibi and Mansour Abbas and without laws for the soldiers, and woe to us if we are the ones who gave them this thing."

When Tuchfeld asked whether, if all unification efforts fail, there exists a possibility of bringing the Religious Zionism party led by Bezalel Smotrich into Likud itself, Katz responded decisively: "I don't want to think about a situation where we don't succeed in making these unifications. Everything is on the table so that we don't waste a single vote from the right."

The comments come with just ten days remaining before candidate lists must be submitted for Israel's 2026 elections. Israel's electoral threshold currently stands at 3.25% of votes cast, meaning parties that fall short see their votes effectively lost.