Edelstein and Shaked Advance Right-Unity Talks

After Yuli Edelstein said he will leave Likud, he and former justice minister Ayelet Shaked are in advanced talks to form a new party and are coordinated on strategy, principles and possible recruits, as of 18:30 IDT. They hope to bring in former UN ambassador Gilad Erdan, who has not decided, and have met senior figures in Judea and Samaria and Religious Zionist rabbis as they court statesmanlike right-wing and Torah-respecting voters. The registered Leyamin Zion effort expects a formal launch within two weeks under the same religious-Zionist initiative. A serious national-right alternative can strengthen service responsibility without turning coalition disagreement with Haredi parties into contempt for Torah communities.