MK (Likud) Nir Barkat, hinted on Wednesday to New Right party chairman not to run with his own party in elections, but to join the ranks of Likud, explaining “the era of small parties is over”.

Speaking with Ayala Hasson on Radio 103FM, Barkat addressed the planned merger of Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu party with Likud, citing Kahlon is acting out of a sense of national responsibility.

In his words, the secretariat of the Likud decided by a large majority with only three votes against, that the recommendations and plans of the prime minister are viewed as acceptable to the party. He calls on voters to ‘strengthen the large parties’, citing “the era of the small parties is over, and we need large blocs”.

Regarding the anger among some Likud members, who are going to lose their positions in the lineup due to the merger, Barkat explained he understands them, those in the positions 30 and above on the party list, who may not enter Knesset as a result of the merger arrangement. Barkat adds that the “the prime minister has provided an answer for the good hard-working people” as he plans to utilize the Norwegian Law which permits cabinet ministers to resign and thereby bring in additional MKs. Barkat calls for “looking at ourselves, the Likud, the national camp and the State of Israel”.

When Hasson asked him about Bennet and his New Right party, Barkat responded “At the end, the little parties harm the national camp, and I call on Bennet not to run in a separate party”.

In a related matter, Channel 13 News reports on Tuesday, May 29, 2019, that Naftali Bennet and Ayelet Shaked are meeting during the afternoon hours to decide their future together.

Correspondent Yehuda Schlesinger adds that Shaked is going to inform Bennet she is not going to run with his New Right party, and she is likely to be heading to the Likud party.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)