In a first boost for the new party founded by former Likud MKs Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch announced Monday morning that she is joining the party.

Bloch’s announcement follows several weeks of talks with Erdan and Edelstein, as well as discussions with figures from other parties. She is the first prominent public figure to officially join the new party, which has yet to be named.

Last week, it was reported that Likud attempted to prevent Bloch from joining the new party by offering her a reserved spot on the party’s Knesset slate. Bloch rejected the offer, while her talks with Erdan and Edelstein continued, culminating in an agreement over the past day.

Her decision comes four days after Erdan and Edelstein announced the formation of their new party, which has made the hatred of Chareidim in the guise of “military enlistment for all” the center of its platform.

At the party’s launch, Erdan stressed that it would not provide the 61st seat needed to form a narrow government — whether headed by Binyamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot. He said the party is intended “for right-wing voters who voted for the coalition and do not want to continue perpetuating draft evasion, and for right-wing voters in the opposition who do not want a left-wing government.”

A new poll published by Kan News on Sunday evening indicates that the new parties established by Erdan and Edelstein and Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper would not pass the threshold if elections were held today.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 journalist Michael Shemesh reported that Naftali Bennett approached Erdan several months ago to explore the possibility of political cooperation.

Erdan declined to meet with Bennett, and no meeting ultimately took place. According to the report, Erdan’s refusal stemmed from his opposition to the former “change government” and his reservations about cooperating with parties that had participated in it.

Bennett’s office responded: “Former Prime Minister Bennett is working and will continue to work to create a Zionist government so that together we can fix Israel.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)