The immigrants' party Yisrael B'Aliyah and the National Union are negotiating on a possible merger. Both parties received fewer seats than they hoped for: National Union received 7, and Yisrael B'Aliyah - 2. These totals may be affected by the soldiers' votes.



The National Union already comprises three parties, the largest of which is another immigrants' party - Yisrael Beiteinu of Avigdor Lieberman. Natan Sharansky, head of Yisrael B'Aliyah, plans to give up his Knesset seat as his way of assuming responsibility for the party's poor showing.