On Sunday afternoon the National Union party will holds its first ideological conference in Jerusalem.
Party sources say, "The conference will mark the beginning of a process. We're expanding, turning to new audiences."
The source also said right-wing haredim, as well as Conservative and irreligious public figures who identify with the party's values will participate in the conference.
Jewish Home chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett will participate in the event as an honored guest.
The first session of the conference will deal with the issues of sovereignty and normalizing Jewish housing in Judea and Samaria, as well as the public stance on Shabbat. The second session will deal with geographic and social peripheries in Israel, and finding Jewish identity in the army.
In preparation for the conference, National Union Chairman and Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel said, "The National Union is working to renew and expand itself. This conference is an additional step in the process of expanding the party and fairly representing all of Israel's religious sectors, as well as the connection with the large haredi, Conservative and seular sectors who identify with our party's values. These sectors believe in our path because of our shared values: love of the Torah, the nation, and the land of Israel. We believe these activities will strengthen the joint Jewish Home-National Union list. We will work as hard as possible to deepen and strengthen our connection with the Jewish Home party. This is necessary and what our voters wanted us to do when they sent us to the Knesset."
National Union general secretary Ofer Sofer said, "The idea to hold a conference was born as a result of what the country and people of Israel are going through right now. In contrast to other parties' conferences, we've chosen to discuss ideological issues instead of bureaucratic ones. We see where the country is headed and want to join with other communities, to strengthen the values of settling all of Israel, keeping the country's Jewish personality, strengthening the periphery and closing gaps."