It appears the Otzma Yehudit and Ichud Leumi parties are going to unite and run under one list in the upcoming Knesset elections. it was reported late Wednesday that while the sides have yet to close a deal, they are “making progress” and persons involved in the process report that a deal appears imminent.

According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, efforts by Yachad party leader Eli Yishai to become a third player in a such a deal are waning, and currently, it appears that if the two parties sign a deal, it will be without Yishai. Polls to date show that if Yachad runs independently, it will not pass the minimum threshold to enter Knesset.

Spokespersons from both Ichud Leumi and Otzma Yehudit released statements that they feel it is important to unite the right-wing if possible to avoid votes being ‘wasted’ as was the case in the last election, when right-wing parties which did not earn enough votes to enter Knesset resulted in over 120,000 being trashed.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)