In Boost to Netanyahu, Israel's Far-right Parties Agree on Joint Run for Elections - Israel News - Haaretz.com
Two of Israel's far-right parties agreed on a joint run for the Knesset on Friday after weeks of political wrangling, in a move likely shore-up Netanyahu's camp in the November election.
Following a three-way meeting with Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism will head the joint ticket with Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit.
The Kahanist party Otzma Yehudit has swelled in support since it entered the Knesset last year, with recent polls showing that Ben-Gvir's party could have secured as many as nine seats in a solo run, leaving Religious Zionism in its wake and hovering around the electoral threshold.
Ben-Gvir, who has advocated for extremist policies such as deporting citizens who are "disloyal to Israel," will hold the second position in the list. His party has also secured fifth, seventh, ninth and tenth slots on the roster as well – around half of the realistic positions. "Five Ben-Gvir's will serve in the upcoming Knesset," the far-right lawmaker said following the announcement.
The agreement was also welcomed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is depending on the two parties to reach a 61-seat majority in the Knesset, as Israel heads to the polls for the fifth time in three-and-a-half years.
"Unity is the order of the day – to ensure the victory of the national camp, and the establishment of a stable national government for the next four years," opposition leader Netanyahu said.
Smotrich said in a tweet that he was "Happy to inform you that together with my friend Itamar Ben-Gvir we have reached an agreement on a joint run in the elections for, God willing, the victory of the right wing camp."
In a second tweet, Smotrich added that "We made a promise, and we kept it."