Is Ayelet Shaked going to return to her native Bayit Yehudi party? According to a Channel 20 report filed by Eliran Tal, Shaked met with faction members of Bayit Yehudi, and while there is nothing stating that she is planning to return to the party she left to launch the New Right party with Naftali Bennet, there are rumors this may occur, as well as rumors she might join Likud. Polls released this week indicate if Shaked joins Likud, the party would receive 40 seats in elections.

There are reports the members of Bayit Yehudi have been pressuring Shaked to return, as they too are well-aware of her popularity among voters and her value to the party if there are elections.

Earlier in the week, Shaked dispelled rumors that she has held talks with and was going to join Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu party. She stated emphatically that there is no basis to those reports.

Regarding the New Right party, Naftali Bennet recently announced he plans to run if there are elections “with or without Shaked“, exhibiting confidence that he will get into Knesset this time. Polls indicate that his party would earn five seats if there are new elections, but those polls were premised on the fact that Shaked was still partnered with Bennet. There has not been a poll measuring Bennet’s electoral popularity without Shaked at his side. In the past election for the current Knesset, Bennet failed to receive enough votes to pass the minimum electoral threshold to enter Knesset.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)