Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett and its number 2 man, MK Uri Ariel, spoke to MK Rabbi Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Monday about the possibility of forming a united front in coalition negotiations, Rabbi Porush told Arutz Sheva.
The purpose of such a "blocking bloc" would be to prevent the establishment of a coalition without the hareidi parties.
"There's no doubt that UTJ and Bayit Yehudi, just like UTJ and Shas, have things in common," the rabbi said. "Like the sanctity of Shabbat, halakhic conversion, and I am certain that there are extensive parts [in Bayit Yehudi] that also see Torah study as important," he added, in a reference to the debate on the number of hareidi men who receive exemption from military service, to free them up for full-time Torah study.
"If we pray Mincha and Arvit together in the synagogue in the Knesset, then there is a reason for cooperating in the subjects that are important to all of us," he added.
"Perhaps a bloc sounds frightening, but we want to coordinate positions, and to this end I spoke with the heads of Bayit Yehudi, Naftali Bennett and Uri Ariel. And yesterday, UTJ tasked me with trying to advance and see if there are things in common, and to sum them up."
Porush would not say that he is optimistic. "Certainly there is a will to sit together and discuss these things," he explained. "After the first meeting is held, I can say whether I am optimistic."