One of the biggest political storms raged among the religious Zionist parties on Jan. 15, with last-minute additions and a “betrayal” that left Rabbi Meir Kahane’s followers in Otzma Yehudit to run alone for the Knesset. The HaBayit HaYehudi party went back on the agreement it reached with Otzma Yehudit to run on one ticket in the March elections, in favor of running with the other right-wing parties.
The Yamina party was established before the September elections, but fell apart after. Now, by the deadline of submitting lists for the March elections, it was established anew — as a strange mix of a list including four parties — the New Right, HaBayit HaYehudi, National Union and Ahi — where the top 10 spots on the list are held by three men from the conservative stream alongside five women (and another in the 11th place). One of the women is secular, former Minister Ayelet Shaked, and the others are of the type that are called “lite” in religious Zionism, i.e., with a less conservative approach. For instance, they do not cover their heads completely, a clear external signal of their more liberal stance.