Israeli parties join in hawkish bloc

JERUSALEM — Israel’s governing Likud Party approved teaming up with an ultranationalist partner on Monday, forming a hawkish bloc that appears poised to win parliamentary elections in January.

The move to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party with Yisrael Beitenu, which is headed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, passed by a large majority Monday evening at a meeting of Likud activists.

Netanyahu said that during his term, Israel has mostly weathered the global economic crisis and has strengthened its security. But he warned that economic and security challenges remain.

“I believe that at this time it is crucial that the national camp join forces, and that is the reason why I asked Avigdor Lieberman to run on a joint list with us, with the Likud,” he said.

Lieberman later issued a statement welcoming the vote, calling it an “important and historic step that will strengthen Israel.”

The move, announced last week, has been criticized by some members of the Likud, who worried that the partnership would wrench their party sharply toward the secular right, but Netanyahu was greeted with loud applause as he addressed the gathering.

The tie-up has raised speculation that centrist parties may also band together as a bloc in response.