Deal Smutrich-Shaked: Primaries Open for Single Burst Deployment List

The two discussed the possibility of promoting open primaries together for the establishment of one list of religious Zionism that will contest the upcoming elections, in contrast to the position of Minister Rafi Peretz. Jewish House officials: "All they want is to oust him from the leadership." Shaked and Smutrich Chambers: "They are in continuous contact about the future of the right"

Deal Smutrich-Shaked: Primaries Open for Single Burst Deployment List

(In the video: Smutrich's call to go back to religious Zionism last month)

The 23rd Knesset elections kicked off tonight (Thursday), and the battle for religious Zionist leadership is in high gear. National Union Minister Bezalel Smutrich and New Right MK MK Ayelet Shaked met today at Shaked's home in Tel Aviv, discussing the possibility of agreeing open primaries to the establishment of one large list of religious Zionism, which will contest the upcoming elections. Gvir, one of the leaders of Jewish power.

This move, contrary to the position of Jewish House Speaker Minister Rafi Peretz, is re-energizing internal battles within the party, and according to Peretz senior officials in the Jewish House, "all their desire (Shaked Smutrich - YA) seems to go to open primaries intended to oust Rabbi Peretz and the Jewish home from religious Zionist leadership. "

Shaked has yet to decide in which framework she will run in the upcoming elections for the 23rd Knesset, facing three key options: running in the new right with Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, returning to religious Zionism through attempting to deal with open primaries, or running for Likud in parallel with political life. Shaked did not make a final decision, but in her talks she sees the possibility of primaries in religious Zionism as her favorite.

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A move that provokes internal battles in the party. Smutrich and Shaked at the Right Block meeting, November (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Bezalel Smutrich and Ayelet Shaked at the Block Session, Knesset, November 18, 2019 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Keeping open primaries will allow Almighty, as he struggles, to return to a major religious list, despite his hostility to the outbreak in recent months, and despite his relative failure in the recent election. The Jewish House is of the opinion that Smutrich and Shaked are assuming that Peretz's public support is not high and such a move will either push him out or expel him from political life, in the face of their argument that the upcoming elections require a different preparation, which is not possible in a limited schedule.

Peretz took office as chairman of the Jewish House after he was asked to do so immediately after Bennett's departure and left the Jewish House. Since then, Peretz has faced harsh criticism from home, and he also had to relinquish the leadership of a united religious list in favor of Shaked in the last election. Led by such a list, she obtained only seven seats, a rage in Peretz's wake that she "did not deliver the goods." Immediately after the election, subject to summation, the list on the right led to a split into two factions, each now facing a crossroads.

In Peretz's surroundings, they told Walla! NEWS that the move to open primaries is meant to split religious Zionism. According to sources close to the Minister of Education, "It is a pity that immediately after leaving for more elections, there are those who choose to engage in divisions instead of unity, and continue the controversy in religious Zionism instead of joining together and presenting a unified and diverse list."

Rivlin after the Knesset dissipation: Democracy must not be lost

Smutrich and Shaked believe Peretz's public support is not high. Peretz at a faction meeting, November (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Jewish House faction meeting, Jerusalem Knesset, November 18, 2019 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Peretz added: "Throughout the last two elections Rabbi Rafi has worked fully with all parties to increase the power of religious Zionism in the government and the Knesset. It is surprising and unfortunate that there are those who choose to do one hand behind Rabbi Rafi's back rather than continue the cooperation." They strongly criticized Smutrich, saying that "the Jewish home and religious Zionism do not intend to return to the events of the Dead Sea. We will continue to do as much as we can to unite religious Zionism as we have so far."

The Smutrich Bureau said in response: "Minister Smutrich and MK Shaked have been working together for five years. There is a great collaboration between the two who have been discussing the national camp and religious Zionism for a long time. "From the Shaked office, in response:" Shaked and Smutrich are in continuous contact about the future of the right. "

Faced with attempts to promote open primaries to one large list, Jewish Home Director Nir Orbach announced this morning that the party will now accelerate its connection with the National Union, with the aim of uniting the two parties. Orbach says, "We are now facing a difficult challenge for religious Zionism and the home. The Jew and you trust that you will always be with us on this journey. "

Ben Gvir supports going to the primaries. Jewish Power Chairman (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Attorney Itamar Ben Gvir during Petition Against Disqualification of his Party, Knesset, Jerusalem, August 14, 2019 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

After failing to pass the blockade in the last election, Jewish officials said yesterday that the party "will also act in this election to make political connections to pass the blockage rate and increase the power of the right bloc, just as it did for unions in the two previous elections." The party added that "thanks to the connection with Jewish power, the unification of the right-wing parties passed the blocking percentage in the first round, and so we intend to act now also in light of the dangerous situation which is indicative of religious Zionism."

Also, Jewish power reiterated their demand to open open primaries. "In the last year, religious Zionism has been at a turning point where sectoral politics has undergone end-to-end change. There is no better time than to make primaries in religious obedience and to compile a quality list that reflects the wishes of national religious figures."

Info Schedule for the 23rd Knesset (Photo: Official Website)