Religious Zionism candidate says party won’t automatically join Netanyahu

In Modiin, Religious Zionism supporters break into a frenzy as extremist Itamar Ben Gvir arrives at a party event.

Candidate Orit Strock, who is slated to enter the Knesset if exit polls prove accurate, says she is deeply moved by the initial results of the election.

Exit polls from all three major networks have Religious Zionism picking up seven seats.

Strock, no. 5 on the slate, tells The Times of Israel that the results show that there is a broad section of the public that is hungry for a party that doesn’t whitewash its views and is unabashedly supportive of the Jewish people’s right to the Land of Israel.

Strock says her party is not a gimmee for Netanyahu, who will have to commit to safeguarding the country’s Jewish identity, strengthening Israel’s grip over the West Bank and major judicial reform that limits the power of the court.

While she recognizes that annexing large parts of the West Bank may take time, Strock says her party in the short-term will demand the legalization of all outposts beyond the Green Line.