Zehut Party Leader to Run on Joint List with Former Otzma Yehudit Chair
Moshe Feiglin, founder and chair of the Zehut party, and former Otzma Yehudit chair Michael Ben-Ari agreed to run together on a joint list in the upcoming Israeli elections. The party stated the alliance was formed because the faith-based nationalist public needs a strong political home. The agreement was announced on May 7, 2026.
jpost.comMoshe Feiglin, founder and chair of the Zehut (Identity) party, and former Otzma Yehudit chair Michael Ben-Ari have agreed to run together on a joint list in the upcoming elections. The party said the alliance was born out of the understanding that the faith-based nationalist public in Israel currently needs a strong political home.
The two men reached the agreement on May 7, 2026. A photograph released that day showed Feiglin and Ben-Ari together as part of the announcement. The joint list combines leadership from the Zehut party, which Feiglin leads, with Ben-Ari's prior role at the head of Otzma Yehudit.
No further details on the exact structure of the joint slate or its platform were released in the initial announcement.
Background on the Parties Zehut, also known as the Identity party, has participated in past Israeli elections with a platform focused on individual liberty and nationalist principles. Otzma Yehudit has been associated with hardline nationalist positions within the broader right-wing political spectrum.
The decision to form a joint list reflects an effort to consolidate support among voters who identify with faith-based nationalist views. Israeli political parties frequently form such alliances ahead of elections to meet the electoral threshold and maximize seats in the Knesset.
Key Facts
Potential Impact
- 01
The joint list may help the parties clear the electoral threshold in the next Israeli election.
- 02
Consolidation of nationalist votes could alter seat distribution among right-wing parties.
- 03
Voters identifying as faith-based nationalists gain a single unified slate option.
Transparency Panel
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