Netanyahu Urges Ben Gvir to Unite Right-Wing Factions to Avoid Left-Wing Government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to a video posted by Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, in which Ben Gvir accused Netanyahu of wanting a weakened Otzma Yehudit to align with Benny Gantz. Netanyahu wrote on X that he did not understand Ben Gvir's video and denied wanting a weak Otzma Yehudit. He stressed that National Religious Party leader Bezalel Smotrich is barely above the electoral threshold and warned that without unification with Smotrich, the right risks losing power to a left-wing government led by Benny Gantz and supported by Yair Golan and Arab parties. Netanyahu urged Ben Gvir not to undermine the right-wing bloc, emphasizing the importance of unity to prevent a leftist coalition.