Beit El Yeshiva head Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed made his first public reference to Bennett and Shaked's new party establishment.
"They also consulted with me, and I said chances for the party's success and this move are great, but there's also a certain risk.
"Now that the decision's been made, I think there's great hope in this new party. Its ideology corresponds to at least one-third of Likud members and many others. It really has a chance to be a strong and good party."