Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party voted to approve a merger with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu on Monday, finalizing the move first announced by the two party leaders last week.



Likud members, meeting in Tel Aviv’s Exhibition Grounds, voted to approve the move by an overwhelming majority, despite recent and vocal criticism against the bid from within the party.

"We must protect the security of the State of Israel, protect jobs, act to lower the cost of living," Netanyahu told the gathering ahead of the vote. He argued that, despite the merger, the Likud would remain a separate entity. "The Likud will remain an independent party," he said.

Addressing rumors to the effect that the move was meant to position Lieberman as Netanyahu's ultimate successor as prime minister, Netanyahu said, "I've heard all kinds of things in recent days about successors. I have news for you: I plan to lead the State of Israel for many more years. The Likud will continue to lead the State of Israel for many more years."

Lieberman on Monday night called the vote "a historic and important decision that will lead to a strengthening of the State of Israel and to its leadership by an experienced and united leadership."

"The unification of Likud-Beiteinu will allow for the setting up after the elections of a stable, strong government that can deal in the best way with the challenges facing the State of Israel. This move will bring back the ability to govern and create internal fortitude and outward power," he added.

The proposal Netanyahu brought to the floor included authorizing Likud's chairman to determine the position of party members on the Likud list, while maintaining the Knesset seat ratio between the parties (Likud 27, Yisrael Beiteinu 15).



The positioning of Likud MKs, the proposal said, will be according to the order determined in the party's primary.



Immediately following the announcement of the merger last week, improvement of Government Services Minister Michael Eitan criticized the move, saying the "agreement, if it goes into effect, it will destroy the Likud movement, and threaten Israeli democracy." In the message posted on his Facebook page, Eitan urged Likud members to sign a petition calling for a secret ballot on the merger, saying that on Monday "we will collect the forms, submit them, and make sure the decision is made in a democratic manner."



What's irking many Likud members is that Netanyahu was definitely the next prime minster even before he stood under the canopy with Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman. And the Likud-right-ultra-Orthodox bloc led unequivocally in all polls before the announcement of the surprise joint list.



Two new polls published by Israeli news networks on Sunday showed the new merger between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu Party would not boost their numbers, but would keep them in power following the January 22 elections.



Sunday's Channel 2 poll showed the new super-bloc would get 42 seats following the upcoming election, the same as they have today. Labor would get 23 seats, Shas 13 seats and Yair Lapid's new party, Yesh Atid would get nine.



Channel 10's poll, also released Sunday, shows Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu with only 35 seats (7 less than today), Labor with 23, Shas with 14 and Yesh Atid with 13.



During a meeting with Likud ministers, Netanyahu defended his decision to unify Likud with Yisrael Beiteinu, saying the move would guarantee his win in the election.



"It is one list but it is not the unification of parties," Netanyahu told Likud ministers on Sunday.



"This is a step that guarantees that we will assemble the next coalition government," Netanyahu said, stressing that the two parties will run on one list but not merge together.



"We will not alter the Likud platform," he said. "This is an important step on the way to the unification of the right."

Open gallery view PM Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at the Likud convention on Mon., Oct. 29, 2012. Credit: Moti Milrod

Open gallery view Likud party convention delegates vote for the merger in Tel Aviv on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012. Credit: Moti Milrod