Ultra-right Jewish Power to compete in Israel elections with Jewish Home

Ultra-right Israeli party Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) has agreed to run together with Jewish Home and National Union, reported the Jerusalem Post.

According to reports, the parties said they plan to form a “technical bloc” whereby Jewish Home and National Union will be a joint faction, “as they have been for the past two Knessets”, and Jewish Power will operate independently, taking the fifth and eighth places on the list.

The purpose of the bloc is so that Jewish Power’s votes, “which are worth two to three Knesset seats but don’t reach the 3.25% electoral threshold, expand the right-wing bloc in the elections”.

As reported by the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Power “is led by students of Rabbi Meir Kahane, including former MK Michael Ben-Ari, Hebron activist Baruch Marzel, Benzi Gopstein, who leads an organization opposing Jewish-Muslim marriages, and far-right activist attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir”.

Haaretz said the union still has to be confirmed. Meretz chair Tamar Zandberg said it would appeal to the Central Elections Committee in a bid to disqualify “Kahanist, Jewish terrorist” Jewish Power.

Poll: Former Israel military chief Ashkenazi adds 6 seats to Gantz’s party