Israel First Party leader MK Sharren Haskel launched a campaign calling on right-wing figures to join her new party as part of an effort to form a “broad Zionist government,” telling The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday she would consider joining a government after the elections with parties from “both sides of the aisle.”
The first figure she called on to join her party was MK Yuli Edelstein, who recently announced that he would be leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party, stating that he was planning a new political path.
Haskel noted that her new campaign would extend in the coming days to appeal to additional figures on the political Right that were falling below the electoral threshold in polls, calling on them to join her as well.
Her campaign comes amid reports that former Israeli UN ambassador Gilad Erdan has been considering forming a new party on the Right to compete with the Likud as well.
After launching the campaign, Haskel told the Post that she would sit with parties from both the opposition and coalition, not ruling out sitting in a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
October 7 bridged political divides
Speaking on Netanyahu, Haskel said that the October 7 Hamas attacks in 2023 bridged past divides of “coalition versus opposition.”
"'Anyone but Bibi ' [Netanayhu] collapsed on October 7. Today's test is not personal. It is based on values."
Haskel explained that a broad Zionist government would put “the state ahead of sectoral interests.”
“This means a partnership of everyone who believes in an equal sharing of the burden, security, and national responsibility,” she added.
Haskel also noted that while her party would not boycott individuals, there would be “substantial red lines.”
“Parties that promote draft evasion or anti-Zionist elements will remain outside. Our goal is to unite the national and Zionist camp."
"Anyone guided by these values can find a home with us, and their place is right alongside us at the cabinet table,” Haskel explained.
“Now is the time to mobilize. This is an emergency [military-like] call-up order for the national camp and for everyone who believes in a Zionist, statesmanlike, and service-oriented state. Now you have a home too," she said.
Haskel's resignation from government
Haskel announced the formation of her new party last week shortly after she resigned from the government in her position as deputy foreign minister.
Her resignation came following the Knesset’s passage of contentious legislation freezing the arrests of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft evaders.
She had said that the reason for her resignation was that she could no longer stand behind the government’s decisions.
“I feel that I can no longer support a government that harms the security of the country during wartime,” she said, announcing her resignation.
Haskel has been a fierce critic of the series of legislation that was advanced by the haredi parties – with government backing – which critics argue encourages draft evasion, even amid the IDF’s severe manpower crisis.
Other figures who have called for a broad Zionist government include Blue and White Party leader MK Benny Gantz and the newly formed political alliance between Reservists Party leader Yoaz Hendel and former Blue and White MK Chili Tropper.
Those figures have also been falling under the electoral threshold in recent polls and have indicated that they would not object to sitting in a government with Netanyahu.
Gantz has been distanced from the opposition bloc seeking to oust the premier in the upcoming election, which is set for October 27.