At Netanyahu’s Caesarea Residence,Ben-Gvir And Smotrich Sign Agreement For Joint List

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Just an hour before Shabbat, Religious Zionism leader Betzalel Smotrich and Jewish Force leader Itamar Ben-Gvir signed an agreement to run on a joint list for the coming Israeli elections. The joint list will be led by both leaders, who will maintain their independent factions within the list. The agreement was signed at former prime minister Netanyahu’s residence, where both leaders had been invited to meet and reach a joint agreement to enable the right wing to present a united front in the elections.

Last week Ben-Gvir announced that he would be running alone, since he had not received what he wanted from Smotrich- five seats in the first ten places on the list. Polls taken during the last week showed that Ben-Gvir could receive as many as nine seats while it was unclear whether Smotrich would pass the electoral threshold on his own. Despite this, Ben-Gvir agreed to accept his original demand of five seats since the joint list ensures that the right-wing could conceivably have 61 seats in the coming election.

The Religious Zionist party will receive places 1,3,4,6 and 8 while Jewish Force will receive 2,5,7,9 and 10.

Smotrich welcomed the agreement, stating ‘Shehecheyanu Ve’Kiymanu La’Zman Ha’Zeh’ I am happy to announce to you that together with my friend Itamar Ben-Gvir, we have reached an agreement on a joint list for elections to achieve a victory for the right wing with G-d’s help. We will continue to make additional connections and together succeed.”

Ben-Gvir said that “in the coming Knesset there will G-d willing be five Ben-Gvirs. We will establish a nationalist government, a true, stable right-wing government for Israel.”

Former prime minister Netanyahu said that “unity is the call of the hour to ensure a victory for the nationalist camp and a stable national government for the next four years.”