There were no less than 38 shomer Shabbos Members of Knesset in the 19th Knesset, the current outgoing Knesset. This includes all walks of religious life from dati leumi to chareidi. According to the lists submitted to the Central Election Committee by the parties competing for seats in the 20th Knesset, based on the results of recent elections polls, there will be a maximum of 35 religious lawmakers in the next Knesset.

Srugim report that today, there are 11 religious MKs in Bayit Yehudi, 7 in Yahadut Hatorah, 11 in Shas, 4 in Likud, 3 in Yesh Atid, and 1 in Yisrael Beitenu. Among this list there are already candidates who are not seeking a place in the next Knesset.

Moshe Feiglin, who landed the 36th slot on the Likud list is not running this time around. David Rotem of Yisrael Beitenu has retired from Knesset, and Nissim Ze’ev was ousted from the Shas list. Zevulun Kalfa has left Bayit Yehudi.

Based on the poll released on Tuesday, 21 Shevat, Likud receives 23 seats; which will result in 3 religious MKs; Yuli Edelstein, Ze’ev Elkin and Tzipi Hotevely.

Bayit Yehudi received 12 seats and it has 10 religious MK; Naftali Bennett, Uri Ariel, Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, Nissim Slomiansky, Uri Orbach, Moti Yogev, Betzalel Smotrich, Shuli Muallem, Avi Wortzman and Nir Orbach. Should the party climb its way back to 15 seats, then Rabbi Avi Ronsky, Orit Struk and perhaps even Anat Roth would enter as well.

Yesh Atid has number of religious MKs on the list but some are in slots that are less likely to place them in the 20th Knesset. Shai Piron is expected to return as is Aliza Lavie who is in the 10th slot which is still viewed as realistic. Elazar Stern in the 12th slot is borderline and Dov Lipman in the 17th slot needs a miracle to get into the next Knesset.

Yahadut Hatorah is hurting in the polls but can still count on 7 seats according to most, but this is to be determined at the polls. Hope is all but lost for an eighth seat, which looked promising a few short weeks ago. The lineup here is Yaakov Litzman, Moshe Gafne, Meir Porush, Uri Maklev, Eliezer Moses, Yisrael Eichler and Yaakov Asher.

Shas lost three MKs from the outgoing Knesset; Eli Yishai, Nissim Ze’ev and Yitzchak Cohen. Polls place Shas at 7 seats which would include Aryeh Deri, Yitzchak Cohen, Meshulam Nahari, Yaakov Margi, David Azoulai, Yoel Ben-Tzur and Yitzchak Vaknin. Eighth on the list is Avraham Michaeli.

Yachad will possibly add five religious MKs to the 20th Knesset including Eli Yishai, Yoni Chetboun, Michael Ayash, Baruch Marzel and Sasson Terbelsi.

In the Kulanu party there is one religious person, Rachel Aliza. Meretz, Labor, the Movement and the Arab bloc do not have religious Jews on their lists.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)