Netanyahu Considers Reserved Knesset Seats for Smotrich Allies Amid Right-Wing Rift

Amid escalating tensions within Israel's right-wing political camp, a senior Likud official revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is contemplating reserving Knesset list spots for allies of Bezalel Smotrich within the Likud party. This move is being considered as a last resort to prevent the national camp from losing votes and to avoid a scenario where the Religious Zionist Party fails to cross the electoral threshold, which could lead to the formation of a left-wing government.

The announcement follows a firm refusal by Itamar Ben-Gvir to unite with Smotrich's faction despite Netanyahu's calls for cooperation. Efforts to reconcile the two parties, which previously ran together in the last election, will continue until the final moments, accompanied by strong public pressure on Ben-Gvir, who is seen as the main obstacle, to take responsibility for the entire right-wing bloc and prevent Smotrich's party from falling below the threshold.

If these attempts fail or if research confirms Ben-Gvir's claim that a joint list would reduce votes, Netanyahu may use the remaining reserved slots on the Likud list to include Smotrich and some of his associates. Party estimates suggest that such a move would not weaken Likud's strength and, while it might not directly benefit Likud, it would serve the broader right-wing bloc by preventing its collapse.

The current confrontation peaked after Netanyahu warned in a recent video about a repeat of the 1992 election scenario, where right-wing fragmentation led to a left-wing government and the Oslo disaster. Netanyahu emphasized that Smotrich's party is on the edge of the electoral threshold and that running separately is a risky gamble for the country's future. Ben-Gvir, however, insists that a technical union would cost 3-4 seats as some voters might abstain, thereby harming the right-wing.

The public dispute between Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, marked by accusations of personal ambitions and attempts to weaken Otzma Yehudit, has heightened political tensions. The reserved slots within Likud are now seen as a critical fallback to prevent vote wastage among Religious Zionist voters. The history of cooperation between Ben-Gvir and Smotrich has been turbulent, but current personal and strategic divides are deeper than ever, pushing Netanyahu to consider dramatic internal measures.