Netanyahu meets with leader of far-right anti-gay party to push for union

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly meeting with Rabbi Zvi Tau, the spiritual leader of the far-right anti-LGBT party Noam.

Netanyahu is seeking to convince Noam to join forces with the far-right Religious Zionism party, which earlier agreed on a joint run with the extreme Otzma Yehudit faction. Noam ran in the most recent election together with the two factions, but it appears unlikely that the party will rejoin its erstwhile partners this time.

The former prime minister is hoping to ensure that no right-wing votes go to waste, potentially blocking him from forming a government; if Noam runs independently it is not expected to cross the electoral threshold.

Parties have until tomorrow night to finalize and submit their slates to the Central Elections Committee.