HaAchdut (Hebrew: האחדות, “Unity”) is an Israeli right-wing political party founded in August 2026 by former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan and Member of Knesset Yuli Edelstein. Established ahead of the October 27, 2026, Knesset election, the party seeks to attract right-wing voters who oppose military-service exemptions and the influence of sectoral parties but do not identify with Israel’s center-left opposition.
Erdan announced the party’s formation on August 6, 2026, with Edelstein occupying the second position on its electoral list. On August 11, at an event in Beit Shemesh, Erdan formally unveiled the name HaAchdut and the campaign slogan “Real Right. Real Conscription.” Dr. Aliza Bloch, the former mayor of Beit Shemesh, also announced that she was joining the party, becoming its first prominent recruit beyond its two founders.
Erdan founded HaAchdut after more than 30 years in Likud, where he had served as a member of Knesset, cabinet minister and diplomat. At the party’s launch, he said Likud’s elected officials no longer represented many of its voters, while insisting that he had not abandoned his own right-wing principles. Edelstein also left Likud following a prolonged confrontation over legislation addressing the military exemption granted to many ultra-Orthodox men. He had been removed as chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee after refusing to advance a bill that lacked significant recruitment targets and effective sanctions.
HaAchdut identifies itself as an unequivocally right-wing rather than centrist party. Erdan has expressed support for the Land of Israel, Jewish settlement and stronger Israeli governance, and has declared his firm opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. At the same time, the party presents itself as an alternative to the polarizing rhetoric and bloc politics that, in its view, have divided Israeli society and prevented governments from addressing long-term national challenges.
The party had not published a comprehensive formal platform at the time of its launch. Statements by its leaders established several principal commitments:
- Universal military or national service: HaAchdut’s central policy is the enactment of a Basic Law requiring every Israeli citizen to perform either military or national service. The obligation would apply across the Jewish and Arab populations, including the ultra-Orthodox community. Edelstein pledged to advance comprehensive conscription legislation within the first 100 days of a new government.
- Preference for citizens who serve: The party proposes linking government benefits and incentives to the fulfillment of military or national-service obligations. Erdan has argued that withholding certain benefits from those who choose not to serve would constitute equal treatment rather than punishment.
- Accommodation without exemption: HaAchdut says that ultra-Orthodox Israelis should be able to maintain their religious identity and way of life while serving the state. It rejects the continued existence of autonomous sectors that receive state support without accepting shared civic responsibilities.
- A broad Zionist government: The party has pledged not to join a narrow 61-seat coalition led by either of Israel’s principal political blocs. Its stated objective is a broad government that is not dependent on political extremes or sectoral interests and is capable of making long-term decisions on security, the economy and Israeli society. Erdan ruled out participation in a government dependent on the Democrats under Yair Golan, whose positions he characterized as radical. Bloch later said she did not categorically exclude cooperation with Ra’am, although HaAchdut had not established this as a formal party-wide coalition policy.
- National unity and political civility: HaAchdut argues that political opponents should not be treated as enemies and calls for restoring responsibility, mutual respect and what Erdan described as the traditional dignity of the Israeli right. The party presents the cooperation among secular, religious, right-wing and left-wing Israelis following the October 7 attacks as a model for national governance.
- Strengthening Israeli public diplomacy: Erdan has advocated creating a centralized and substantially better-funded public-diplomacy apparatus, described as an “army of hasbara” led by a national public-diplomacy chief. He has accused successive governments of neglecting Israel’s international image and losing support among younger Americans, including Republicans.
- Investigation of October 7: Erdan has said that an official commission must investigate the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks. However, he opposed both a politically controlled parliamentary investigation and a conventional state commission selected by the sitting president of the Supreme Court. The party had not yet proposed a detailed alternative mechanism.
Before the formal launch, Erdan also identified the introduction of core curriculum studies in ultra-Orthodox schools, greater ultra-Orthodox participation in the workforce, improved transportation infrastructure and stronger governance in the Galilee and Negev as national priorities. Detailed proposals in these areas had not yet been released.
HaAchdut seeks to lead what Israeli commentators call the “third bloc” - right-wing and centrist voters who favor a broad government and reject the choice between another narrow Netanyahu-led coalition and a government dependent on the left. Early polling placed the party below Israel’s 3.25% electoral threshold, increasing pressure on HaAchdut and other small parties in this political space to merge before candidate lists are finalized.
Sources: Keshet Neev, “Ex-UN ambassador Erdan says he’s working to establish new right-wing party, sees himself as PM,” Jerusalem Post, (May 26, 2026).
“Erdan and Edelstein to establish party without Shaked,” Israel National News, (July 22, 2026).
Eli Zilberberg, “Erdan: Unity or We Die - Who Is Prime Minister Matters Less,” Israel Hayom, (August 6, 2026). [Hebrew]
Keshet Neev and Sam Halpern, “Israeli gov’t abandoned PR war, needs ‘army of hasbara’ led by ‘chief of staff’,” Jerusalem Post, (August 9, 2026).
Eli Zilberberg, “Aliza Bloch Joins Gilad Erdan,” Israel Hayom, (August 10, 2026). [Hebrew]
Avi Solomon, “Erdan Reveals the Name of His New Party: ‘The Unity Party’,” Walla, (August 11, 2026). [Hebrew]
Eli Zilberberg, “‘Real Right. Real Conscription’: Erdan Launches the HaAchdut Party,” Israel Hayom, (August 11, 2026). [Hebrew]