While the chareidim are still working out the final details of their combined lists, last minute tweaking if you will, the dati leumi right-wing parties have signed a coalition deal and HaBayit HaYehudi and Ichud HaLeumi will run under a joint list in the 11 Shevat 5773 general elections.

For the newly-elected leader of Bayit Yehudi, Naftali Bennett, it signals another victory as the polls are pleasingly optimistic regarding the joint list. Unseating the National Religious Party old guard, Bennett has new views and a new methodology, one that seems to be the correct formula, at least for the time being.

Bennett told participants in the kenos that “after years of sitting along the sidelines” the dati leumi representatives will once again take a prominent place in Knesset to advance issues important to that tzibur.

In the agreement, Bennett’s party will receive six of the first ten slots, with the other four going to coalition partner Ichud HaLeumi. Ichud leader MK Uri Ariel boasted “we promised and we delivered”, confident the election outcome will deliver a pleasant surprise.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)