Jerusalem, 21 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Haredi Public Party has refused to withdraw from Israel’s October 27 Knesset election despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal efforts to persuade it to drop out, Israeli media reported Wednesday.
Netanyahu met Tuesday night with party chairman Moti Leitner in Petah Tikva, following a request from the Prime Minister’s Office. According to the party, Leitner said there was little point in discussing practical steps unless the Haredi parties committed to supporting the measures and reforms Netanyahu had promised the Haredi public.
The Likud and Religious Zionism parties fear that the Haredi Public Party could draw votes away from right-wing parties and leave them below the electoral threshold.
Leitner has argued that his party offers a different Haredi political approach, including support for military enlistment and core-curriculum studies. The party insists it will continue campaigning through election day.
