Netanyahu Blames Itamar Ben Gvir for Potential Right-Wing Election Loss Amid Failed Alliance Talks

Ahead of the upcoming elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party have shifted blame onto Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of Otzma Yehudit, for the risk of a right-wing defeat. Despite positive polls on Channel 14 showing the national camp leading, Netanyahu accused Ben Gvir of refusing to unite with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, a move Likud warns could split right-wing votes and enable a left-wing government.

Netanyahu invited both Ben Gvir and Smotrich to separate meetings to encourage a joint run, but Otzma Yehudit firmly rejected the proposal, stating their decision not to run with the Religious Zionist Party was final. Likud responded by holding Ben Gvir responsible for potentially enabling a government led by left-wing figures such as Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, alongside Arab parties.

The Likud party also issued personal warnings to Ben Gvir, claiming such a government would dismantle current achievements, weaken the IDF, shut down Channel 14, and even threaten Ben Gvir's own home. In response, Ben Gvir proposed two alternatives to prevent vote loss: uniting all small right-wing parties or using reserved spots in Likud's list to include Smotrich, though he remained opposed to merging with Religious Zionism.

Likud urged Ben Gvir to overcome personal ego and take responsibility by agreeing to Netanyahu's call for unity. Meanwhile, Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin are reportedly in advanced talks to run in a technical bloc, further complicating right-wing alliances ahead of the elections.