The far-Right Otzma Yehudit and Noam political parties late Saturday night agreed to run on the same Knesset ticket, essentially forming the first merger within the right-wing camp before the March 23 general election.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
While Otzma Yehudit is a radical party that follows the Kahanist doctrine, Noam is an extremist religious-Zionist party that follows the teachings of Rabbi Zvi Yisrael Tau, co-founder and president of Yeshivat Har Hamor in Jerusalem. As such, Noam is known for its hardline anti-LGBTQ, anti-Reform positions.
So far, polls have projected that an independent Knesset bid by either would fail. It is still unclear whether a merger will push them over the four-seat electoral threshold.
Their agreement, signed by Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir and Noam head Avi Maoz, states that "In light of the challenges facing the State of Israel and the need to establish a strong and stable right-wing government, and in light of the goal of bringing together all the parties that represent religious Zionism and the Torah of Israel, the sides have come to an agreement to run together."
Both parties believe the merger between Otzma Yehudit, whose base also comprises religious voters from the periphery, and Noam, which has a small Orthodox following, will provide them a significant boost. At the merger signing Saturday night, Ben-Gvir and Maoz called on Religious Zionist Party chief MK Bezalel Smotrich and Habayit Hayehudi Chairwoman Hagit Moshe, along with other figures from the religious-Zionist camp, to sign a joint agreement to prevent the election of a left-wing government.
"To prevent the establishment of a left-wing government, it is imperative to forge unifications on the Right, and the merger with our dear friends from the Noam party, who work devotedly to safeguard the country's Jewish identity, is a winning union. Our strength lies in our unity," said Ben-Gvir.
Maoz, too, celebrated the merger saying, "We believe the partnership agreement is only one link in the chain that will produce a strong and united nationalist religious party. I am calling on my friends from Habayit Hayehudi and the Religious Zionist Party to join us and ensure the significant and important representation of a united nationalist religious list in the next government."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
