Former Likud ministers Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein are expected to issue an official announcement of the launch of their new political party later on Thursday.

According to Yisrael Hayom, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is working to prevent former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch from joining the party by offering her a reserved spot on the Likud list.

It is unclear whether Bloch will accept the offer or choose to join Erdan’s new party.

At the same time, Yaakov Bardugo, a Channel 14 political commentator who is considered close to Netanyahu, sharply criticized Erdan and Edelstein.

Speaking in an interview with Galey Yisrael, Bardugo said sardonically, “Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein are carrying two remarkable flags together. The first is ‘Just Not Netanyahu,’ and the second is ‘Hatred of Chareidim.”

He continued: “I don’t recall Gilad Erdan ever saying a word against the Chareidim, and now he suddenly presents himself this way…First they’ll have to cross the electoral threshold, and only then can they talk about forming a government.”

Erdan is expected to continue recruiting additional high-profile figures in an effort to ensure his party passes the electoral threshold. Recent media reports said he has approached several public figures, including former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, former Olympic medalist Oren Smadja, and former military officer Chezi Nehama.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)