As negotiations among right-wing parties continue in Israel ahead of elections for the 22nd Knesset on September 17, 2019, the head of the New Right party, Ayelet Shaked, explained that she is willing to forgo her previous demand that her party have every other slot on the combined ticket in the interest of persuading Bayit Yehudi to agree to run together. Shaked explained that the move was taken towards facilitating signing a deal between Bayit Yehudi and other right-wing parties.

It is pointed out that Shaked remains the most popular of the right-wing candidates, having considerable electoral popularity as compared to Bayit Yehudi party chairman, MK Rabbi Rafi Peretz. That said, Peretz has been adamant in his refusal to step down as the party’s leader. He is backed by the public letter released by prominent dati leumi rabbonim, in which they stated only a Shomer Shabbos person should lead the party, which would disqualify Shaked in the eyes of the rabbonim.

Shaked calls on Bayit Yehudi to continue efforts to link up with other parties, including Otzma Yehudit, which is viewed as “right-wing extremist” by many, and many members of the Bayit Yehudi Central Committee, the party’s governing body, are opposed to uniting with Otzma as was done in the past election.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)