Israel's religious right-wing parties on Monday officially announced they would be vying in the Sept. 17 elections on one ticket. The faction comprising New Right, Habayit Hayehudi and the National Union will run under the name "United Right," led by former justice minister Ayelet Shaked.
A statement released by the faction at the conclusion of the negotiations stressed that, following the elections, the United Right plans to recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu form the next government.
"The faction will jointly hold coalition negotiations with Prime Minister Netanyahu with the aim of establishing a right-wing government under his leadership," the statement said.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
According to sources familiar with the conditions of the merger, Habayit Hayehudi and theNational Union plan to demand that their partner in April's elections – the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which was excluded from the union – will be reserved a spot on the Likud's slate.
Under the merger agreement, the second slot on United Right's list will be reserved for Habayit Hayehudi leader Rafi Peretz. National Union head Bezalel Smotrich was placed third, and New Right's co-founder Naftali Bennett fourth.
Habayit Hayehudi MK Moti Yogev was placed fifth, followed by Ofir Sofer (National Union), Matan Kahana (New Right), Idit Silman (Habayit Hayehudi), Roni Sassover (New Right) and MK Orit Strock (Habayit Hayehudi).
Shaked said Monday that she plans to pursue an additional merger with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party.
Zehut splintered from Likud before the April elections but failed to pass the electoral 3.25% threshold, which translates roughly into four Knesset seats.
"Weeks of efforts proved successful," Shaked said in a statement to the media. I've been working around the clock with my partners and we have been able to bring the right-wing parties together so important votes won't be lost. This is splendid news for the Right. I plan to pursue further mergers. We should be one big faction and we will continue with this effort until the very last minute."
All political parties must present their Knesset lists to the Central Elections Committee by Aug. 1.
Peretz welcomed the parties' decision to run on one ticket, saying, "We kept the proper representation for religious Zionism in the joint list. We will run together and win together."
Smotrich noted that "everyone had to make concessions. We all demonstrated responsibility and we did the right thing for the Israeli public and the State of Israel."
