Zehut running alone as Feiglin submits its list
No compromises as yet from United Right on unity deal with Otzma with Thursday deadline looming
Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut Party submitted its electoral list for the September 17 election on Wednesday morning, meaning that it will now be running alone and not as part of a political union with any of the other right-wing parties.
Efforts had been made by United Right to bring Zehut into a joint list, although the Zehut Party has said that there was “not even one offer” from United Right leader Ayelet Shaked.
“Last time we ran alone and only got eight to nine mandates in the polls, then we lost in the last few days,” Feiglin told The Jerusalem Post at the Knesset Wednesday morning. “Polls show we will pass the electoral threshold [alone] this time. We stretched out our arms to other parties to run together, no one took our hands until this moment.”
Feiglin also said that his party will be recommending Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government.
Zehut’s list has Feiglin at No. 1, followed by economist Gilad Alper, divorced men’s rights advocate Ronit Dror at No. 3 and Arkady Muter at No. 4.
Meanwhile, United Right is still refusing to compromise on its offer to the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party, and is sticking to its proposal of eighth place on a united electoral list as the highest position it is willing to give, as well as the 13th spot.
Leading Otzma figure Itamar Ben-Gvir has demanded the fifth spot and is refusing to back down from this stance, as the Thursday evening deadline rapidly approaches.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Ben-Gvir said that at present, a unity deal with United Right “does not look like [it is] happening” despite what he said were numerous compromises on his party’s behalf.
In what may have been an appeal to Netanyahu to intervene on his behalf, Ben-Gvir said that he very much appreciated the prime minister, and described him as “the responsible adult in the room” in reference to Netanyahu’s strenuous efforts before the April election to force the religious right-wing parties to add Otzma to their list.
Asked if he would join a right-wing government, Ben-Gvir said it was a possibility, but that at the very least “I would give a security net to Netanyahu and would save a right-wing government” if it looked like it may be toppled in the Knesset.
“Otzma Yehudit has proposed far-reaching compromises, but in Bayit Yehudi they prefer ego over the good of a right-wing government,” fumed Ben-Gvir.