Otzma Yehudit Leader Ben Gvir Challenges Netanyahu on Right-Wing Unity Strategy

Itamar Ben Gvir, chairman of the Otzma Yehudit party, responded critically to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid their ongoing public dispute over a potential alliance between Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit ahead of the upcoming elections. Ben Gvir accused Netanyahu of attempting to weaken Otzma Yehudit to form a broader national government with Benny Gantz, describing this as neither right-wing nor nationalistic.

Ben Gvir emphasized that recent conversations with Netanyahu revealed differing views on electoral strategy. According to Ben Gvir, all polls indicate that a joint list including him and Bezalel Smotrich would cause Otzma Yehudit to lose three to four seats due to voter abstention. He recalled Netanyahu telling him that the ideal scenario to maximize votes would be a joint run by Ofir Winter and Smotrich, since Winter supposedly does not attract votes from undecided voters.

The exchange highlights tensions within the right-wing bloc regarding how best to consolidate votes and form a government. Ben Gvir’s remarks suggest skepticism about Netanyahu’s approach and underline the strategic challenges facing right-wing parties in the upcoming election cycle.