With elections three months away the candidates are weighing options and it appears a split in Icud HaLeumi may be unavoidable as the ‘ארץ ישראל שלנו’ faction may break away.

Baruch Marzel and MK Dr. Michael Ben-Ari are planning to run under a joint slate, possibly with MK Prof. Aryeh Eldad. They hope to draw votes from residents of areas plagued by illegal aliens, Chabadniks, and voters disappointed with Shas.

At present, they are just probing the possibility, for they feel the Knesset lacks legitimate right-wing representation.

Ichud HaLeumi today is comprised of four MKs from three different parties; Yaakov Katz and Uri Ariel (Tekuma), Aryeh Eldad (Tikvah) and Michael Ben-Ari (Eretz Yisrael Shelanu). A fifth person, Uri Bank (Moledet) did not earn a Knesset seat.

As is the case in the chareidi camp, there is no achdus in the dati leumi camp as Icud is on the verge of breaking up, as is HaBayit HaYehudi, with the latter now in a leadership race which includes the incumbent, Minister Rabbi Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz and Naftali Bennett.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)