Itamar Ben Gvir Criticizes Netanyahu Over Alleged Staged Unity Call with Smotrich

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister and leader of Otzma Yehudit, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on social media following reports that Netanyahu mediated talks between Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin to unify their parties. Ben Gvir accused Netanyahu and Smotrich of orchestrating a staged call for unity with him, aimed solely at pressuring Feiglin to lower his demands in the negotiations. He wrote, "You and Smotrich made a staged call for unity with me just to pressure Feiglin," adding, "My name is Itamar Ben Gvir, not Benny Gantz," referencing the opposition leader.

The reports revealed that representatives of the Religious Zionist Party, led by Smotrich, had been in advanced talks with Feiglin's Zehut party about a joint technical bloc list, offering Feiglin a high spot and additional places on the list. These talks occurred independently of Netanyahu's pressure on Ben Gvir and Smotrich to unite. Earlier on the same day, Netanyahu invited Ben Gvir and Smotrich to a meeting scheduled for Sunday to discuss their potential unification, emphasizing in an official statement that "no vote should be wasted, and the right-wing bloc must unite to survive."

However, Otzma Yehudit quickly issued a firm response rejecting any alliance with the Religious Zionist Party, declaring that the decision not to run together in the upcoming Knesset elections is final and will not change under any circumstances. This public dispute highlights ongoing tensions within the right-wing camp ahead of the elections, with Netanyahu pushing for consolidation while Ben Gvir resists what he sees as manipulative tactics.

Summary: National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich of staging a false unity call to pressure Moshe Feiglin amid talks of a right-wing party alliance. Netanyahu invited Ben Gvir and Smotrich to discuss unification, but Otzma Yehudit rejected any joint run with the Religious Zionist Party, maintaining a firm stance against the merger ahead of the elections.