Hadar Mukhtar Denied Candidacy in Otzma Yehudit After Likud Primary Setback

Hadar Mukhtar faces another political setback after being barred from running in the upcoming Knesset elections with the Otzma Yehudit party. Previously, Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu prevented her from participating in the party primaries by not shortening her membership period, a privilege he granted to others, leaving her ineligible. Mukhtar, who previously led the "Burning Youth" party in the last Knesset elections and garnered several thousand votes, was unable to run then due to being under the minimum age of 21. She sought to join Likud but registered too late to qualify for the primaries.

Now, Otzma Yehudit, led by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has also declined her candidacy. Ben-Gvir informed Mukhtar that she will not be on the party's list for the upcoming elections. However, he expressed respect for her and encouraged her to gain more experience in parliamentary work before pursuing future public roles. This marks a continued challenge for Mukhtar as she attempts to establish herself in Israeli politics.