Baruch Marzel (center-left) and Eli Yishai (right)
Baruch Marzel (center-left) and Eli Yishai (right)Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Attorney Itamar Ben Gvir, a member of the 'Otzma Yehudit' political party founded by former members of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane's Kach party, believes that a merger between a number of small religious and right-wing parties may be possible.

Following the departure of ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked from the Jewish Home, right-wing activists have urged the Jewish Home to form a joint list with smaller right-wing and religious parties. Among the factions sometimes suggested are Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), founded by Hevron activist Baruch Marzel and former National Union MK Michael Ben-Ari, former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party, and ex-Shas minister Eli Yishai's Yahad.

In 2015, Otzma Yehudit and Yahad ran on a joint list for the 20th Knesset, narrowly missing the 3.25% electoral threshold.

"At the level of principle, we were the first to say that our door is open and we want a connection and a right-wing distributor," Otzma Yehudit's Ben Gvir told Arutz Sheva.

He noted that a poll recently taken by the Yisrael Hayom newspaper showed that such a merger could result in the right receiving more seats than if the parties remained separate.

"It is possible that it is desirable and proper, but we must respect the other and do things with understanding without dictating from above," said Ben-Gvir, adding that he "hopes that we will all succeed in creating an 'orange boom.'"

And what about the possibility that such a partnership will not take place? Is it true that even in such a reality that might leave 'Otzma Yehudit' below the electoral threshold, the party intends to run anyway? Ben-Gvir responds in the affirmative: "We represent a public that will not vote for Bennett or Moti Yogev and Ben Dahan, whether they say that we are equal to two seats or whether we will be equal to three and a half or four Knesset seats. Of course we will run and present the list that will include Dr. Michael Ben Ari, Baruch Marzel and probably me as well."

"The door is open, and I hope we will go through the connection and if we do not go and run in order not to lose the voices and with God's help, we will succeed."