Religious Zionist Party chairman Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich explained to i24NEWS the considerations behind adding new figures and reserved spots to the party's slate.
During a Zoom call with activists, held hours ahead of the deadline to submit the party's list of Knesset candidates, Smotrich said, "I know there are several slots we're missing - women, Sephardim, the periphery, and perhaps also some representatives of the generation of victory who fought and served hundreds of days in the reserves."
"I have searched for and am searching for someone who checks as many of those boxes as possible, but I won't push MKs further down the list unless I'm convinced that I have something worthwhile in hand."
He added, "Obviously, if we bring in a woman, we'll feel better. It's not that the person has to bring in a Knesset seat on their own, but the candidate's inclusion on the slate needs to be electorally worthwhile for the party."
On Sunday evening, the Religious Zionist Party's central committee approved the technical bloc agreement Smotrich signed with Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut party.
Alongside approving the agreement, central committee members authorized party chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to work toward additional alliances ahead of the election.