Dr. Aliza Bloch, former mayor of Beit Shemesh, announced on Monday that she is joining the new party established by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstan and expressed her ambition to become the next education minister.
Bloch enters national politics following years of experience in management and education.
As mayor of Beit Shemesh, she led one of Israel's most complex cities, home to secular, religious, haredi (ultra-Orthodox), and traditional communities.
Bloch's history of education reform
During her term, she expanded the city's state haredi education frameworks, based on the belief that haredi children can maintain their identity while also receiving the tools needed to integrate into Israeli society through education, employment, and service.
"Beit Shemesh taught me that it is possible to bring different communities together, but only when people are prepared to truly work at it, not through headlines and not through bloc politics. Education is where we begin building belonging, responsibility, and a shared life," Bloch said in the past.
Bloch has also described the education system as central to addressing one of the most difficult issues facing Israeli society, equality in sharing the burden.
"Equality in sharing the burden does not begin at age 18 and is not built through legislation alone. It begins with education, a sense of belonging, and responsibility from a young age. I am not against the haredim. I am worried about politics that leaves an entire public outside Israeli responsibility. In Beit Shemesh, we proved that it is possible to create frameworks that respect haredi identity while also connecting children to the state, education, employment, and service."
Since the outbreak of the war, Bloch has spent part of each week living in Kiryat Shmona, where she has worked to strengthen the education system in northern Israel.
As president of the Israel Arts and Science Academy, she initiated the establishment of centers of excellence for students in the city. She is currently working with the mayor of Netivot and the Education Ministry to establish a high school for gifted and outstanding students in science and the arts.
Bloch chooses Erdan and Edelstein
As the election approached, reports increasingly indicated that Bloch, considered a highly regarded figure in both local and national politics, was holding talks about joining one of the parties expected to run for the Knesset, with education at the top of her priorities.
In recent weeks, it emerged that she had held talks with Benny Gantz as well as with Likud, where she was reportedly offered a reserved spot on the party's next Knesset slate.
Bloch has now made her decision. She is the first person to join the new party established by former Likud members Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein.
The two announced in recent days that they were forming a new right-wing party as an alternative to Israel's existing right-wing parties. In announcing the move, they criticized Likud and emphasized the importance of IDF service.
Announcing the establishment of the party, Erdan said: "This is one of the most difficult days of my life, but also one of the most important days of my life. Tonight I am saying goodbye to the political home where I grew up for more than 30 years. Unfortunately, I can no longer call it home. Likud's elected officials no longer represent Likud voters, whom I love so much."