Jewish Home Won’t Run With Likud

YERUSHALAYIM
Rabbi Chaim Druckman, head of the Bnei Akiva network. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the head of the Bnei Akiva network, dismissed on Monday reports that the Jewish Home party was considering running together with Likud.

“The Jewish Home did not consider such a thing at all. These were reports that were planted, perhaps by the Likud itself,” Rabbi Druckman was quoted by Arutz Sheva as saying.

He acknowledged that he was contacted by various parties who wanted to promote the idea, but in his view, “this is not the right way.”

Jewish Home members are concerned about “including the bridge that is to be built on Shabbat or not, and including military service and social matters….it is not looking for jobs for a few Jews who will be in the Knesset. The Jewish Home speaks of the State of Israel according to the Torah of Israel and the religious-Zionist aspect that includes the perfection of the Jewish people, the Land of Israel and the Torah of Israel,” he said.

Rabbi Druckman stressed the need for unity: “The merger of National Union and Otzma Yehudit as a technical block to strengthen the camp is a worthy move,” he said, amid reports that negotiations toward a merger have so far failed.

“There is no doubt that the Jewish Home and the National Union should run together,” said Rabbi Druckman, adding: “I cannot think of a reason for them to run separately. These two lists are the complete list of religious Zionism and should run together.”

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu again urged the religious Zionist parties to run together, saying divisions between right-wing parties will “result in a loss.”

During a meeting with senior party officials, Netanyahu says a merger of the Jewish Home, National Union and Otzma Yehudit parties could “save 6 of 7 seats” in the upcoming elections,” according to a Likud statement.

Netanyahu says that a divided right-wing “will definitely result in an election loss.”

Recent polls indicate that a combined Jewish Home-National Union list would barely pass the electoral threshold of 3.25 percent of the national vote. If they run separately, neither will win enough votes to put anyone in the next Knesset, according to the latest polls.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!