MK Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) was interviewed Sunday morning by "Radio Nonstop" where she denied claims that Jewish Home has plans to integrate with Likud in upcoming elections.
"Jewish Home is not running with Likud - there is absolutely no logic in that," Shaked said.
Likud sources told Channel 10 News Thursday night that a Likud-Jewish Home pact could still be on the table.
Despite other reported denials from both Likud and Jewish Home sources, analysts say that such a pact could still be in the works as Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have been working closely this election - a stark contrast from Likud's 2013 campaign, which painted Bennett and Jewish Home as "extremist."
Jewish Home and LIkud also cooperated on signing a "surplus vote" agreement for the mutual benefit of both parties.
"Right now the parties will receive more seats separately," Shaked stressed, "and that's the right thing to do to keep the right bloc strong. That's our goal, so there's no sense [in running together]."
Continuing, Shaked stated, "I think that ifwe runseparatelywe will get moreseats andthat is what mattersin today's form of government [i.e. parliamentary majority system]. We havealsogaps in our ideologies."
Indeed, a poll Thursday showed that a Likud-Jewish Home pact would, combined, give the two 33 mandates in the Knesset - far less than the 48 the two parties would receive if running separately.
Shaked also referred to the possibility that Tekuma, headed by Housing Minister Uri Ariel, would withdraw from the party. "I really hope it doesn't happen," she said.
"Bennett and Ariel are currently in negotiations about a number of Tekuma members being included on the party list [for March 2015]," Shaked added.
Recent days have shown an overwhelming number of reports that Ariel may partner with MK Eli Yishai who plans to leave Shas.
Shaked argued thatsuch a movecould hurtthe rightblock. "It is not bad for Uri Ariel with us. Fragmenting parties can cause agreat deal of damageto the right," she said.
"It happened in 1992 - the right split like an amoeba, and in the end the Left came to power and began the Oslo Accords," Shaked explained. "I hope it will not happen to us, because in recent years we have worked well with each other, contrary to [Shas Chairman Aryeh] Deri."
Beyond Shaked's worries, Channel 10 reported that Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett and Aryeh have spoked on the phone and discussed the possibility of taking joint action against any proposed new party by Ariel and Yishai.