Minister Uri Ariel, who heads the Ichud Leumi/Tekuma faction, responded to reports in a weekend newspaper that a deal has been reached by which he will run with Bayit Yehudi in the next elections. Ariel stated there is no such deal.

Makor Rishon reported that the idea came from Deputy Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Eli Ben-Dahan, a former Tekuma member who moved to Bayit Yehudi and ran in the Bayit Yehudi primaries and emerged successfully. He has the third slot after Bennet and Ayelet Shaked.

However, Ariel on Sunday told Kol Chai Radio the report simply is not accurate and there is no such deal and will not be such an agreement.

Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennet recently announced if the Ichud Leumi faction members want to run, they will have to compete in Bayit Yehudi primaries, explaining they would no longer received protected slots on the lineup as they did in the previous elections.

Ariel has since indicated if this is the case, then they will run independently.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)