The decision was made in the weekly government meeting, which was convened in Kiryat Shmona. It was led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who vowed to invest billions of shekels in the area.
The revived Joint List would win 13 seats, up from the 10 currently projected when the parties ran separately. The seats came at the expense of Yesh Atid, Naftali Bennett, and Gadi Eisenkot.
Opposition parties remaining separate may actually offer strategic advantages for campaigning against Netanyahu, Rahat explained.
After years of advocacy, new legislation broadens recognition, financial support, and rehabilitation frameworks for widows, orphans, and families of fallen soldiers.
Golan urged a mass volunteer operation to safeguard ballot integrity, and said his party would assemble “eyes and ears in every polling station” and defend the Central Elections Committee.
“A red line was crossed," Bismuth said, accusing the MKs of “bullying and vulgar behavior” and improperly attempting to photograph committee documents.
By law, failure to pass the budget by March 31 leads to an automatic collapse of the government and snap elections within about 90 days.
The Degel Hatorah faction within United Torah Judaism received a green light from spiritual leader Rabbi Dov Lando to vote in favor of the state budget, Lando's office said.
President Isaac Herzog will be traveling to Australia from February 8 to February 12, where he will meet with Jewish leaders, victims of the Bondi Beach massacre, and Australian politicians.
By law, if the state budget is not approved in all three readings by the end of March, when the fiscal year closes, the Knesset will automatically dissolve, and elections will be called.
In a short decision issued on Tuesday, Judge Ami Kobo ordered that the enforcement of the magistrate’s ruling be stayed until at least February 1.
