Israel election filing begins as parties submit slates | Live from Knesset

Israel’s Central Elections Committee began accepting party lists Monday for the next Knesset, with former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party becoming the first to formally submit its slate. Party representatives are required to present their candidate lists to committee chairman Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, along with the party name and the letters they want displayed on their ballot slips. The committee said each submission will then undergo the legally required review process. Beyachad representatives Merav Cohen, Bruria Naim and Jeremy Saltan requested the letter B (ב) for the party’s ballot slip, with the letters Rak (רק) submitted as an alternative. The letter B (ב) has historically been associated with the National Religious Party and successive Religious Zionist parties. In the previous election, Ayelet Shaked’s Jewish Home party ran under the same letter. Meanwhile, Eisenkot’s Yashar! party also submitted its candidate slate and said the letters it requested from the Central Elections Committee are “Derech,” meaning “way” or “path.” The list was submitted by Yashar! Knesset candidates Inbar Harush Giti, former CEO of Aharai!, and Shaul Meridor, former head of the Finance Ministry’s Budget Department. “The choice of the letters ‘Derech’ expresses the idea at the heart of Yashar!’s establishment: In the face of polarization, irresponsibility and a loss of direction, we are offering Israel a straight path — a path of statesmanlike leadership, responsibility, service, Zionism and unity,” the party said in a statement. Submitting the candidate list and requested letters does not constitute their approval. The slate and letters will be examined in accordance with the law. The party also said: “In the coming election, Israelis will choose not only who will lead the country, but also the path it will take. Yashar!’s path is the path to replacing the government, uniting the people and leading Israel toward security, growth and prosperity. A straight path for Israel.” One of the representatives of the Pirate Party, which has been trying to enter the Knesset since the 2013 election for the 19th Knesset, was Professor Dan Ariely, who has made headlines in recent weeks after an article he wrote was retracted following researchers’ claims that the data had been manipulated. The Religious Zionism party said that its chairman, Bezalel Smotrich, “has in recent weeks examined the possibility of adding numerous figures to the Religious Zionism slate for the next Knesset, but delayed a decision on the matter in order to preserve spots for a necessary and responsible merger with Ofer Winter’s party. Minister Smotrich believed that joining forces within the national camp was more important than the interests of his own party and strengthening it with additional figures.” “However, now that it appears Winter has made up his mind to run independently and irresponsibly gamble with the future of right-wing rule and the State of Israel, he will return to examining the possibility of strengthening Religious Zionism through reserved spots allocated by the party chairman,” the party said. Advance registration for filing slots opened Sunday. Beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, several other parties are expected to submit their lists, including The Reservists, led by Yoaz Hendel Yashar!, led by former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot and Amcha Israel, headed by former senior IDF officer Ofer Winter. Shas and Otzma Yehudit are among the other parties that have already registered for submission slots, although it remains unclear whether they will formally file their lists Monday. Most of the remaining parties have yet to register and are therefore expected to submit their slates Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. The filing process is scheduled to continue until midnight.