Dispute Over Former MK Michael Ben-Ari Stalls Smotrich-Feiglin Coalition Talks

Negotiations between Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin to unite their political lists have hit a snag over the placement of former Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari. Smotrich is demanding that Ben-Ari be placed in the second spot allocated to Feiglin's list, a position Feiglin wishes to reserve for another candidate. Smotrich insists Ben-Ari should receive the eighth spot on the joint list, arguing that the ongoing negotiations include Ben-Ari, who had previously agreed to run with Feiglin.

Sources close to Feiglin initially indicated that Ben-Ari was aware of the negotiations' details, but it has since emerged that this is not entirely accurate, and a significant disagreement exists regarding his intended position. Smotrich is reportedly pushing for Ben-Ari to be placed higher on the list, while Feiglin aims to position him one spot lower to accommodate his own candidate.

This dispute over Ben-Ari's candidacy adds to other unresolved issues in the talks, including Feiglin's demand for the eighth spot and additional placements further down the list. While progress has been made on securing the second position, the specific individuals to fill these key slots have become a point of contention.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly urged right-wing parties to unite, emphasizing the importance of preventing wasted votes. He noted that there is still about a week for agreements to be reached and suggested a potential for broad consolidation. Netanyahu also addressed the friction between Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, calling on Ben-Gvir to set aside ego and unite, drawing a parallel to Smotrich's past actions. He also expressed concerns about potential independent runs, like that of Ofer Winter, potentially harming the right-wing bloc.

Ben-Gvir has criticized the perceived coordinated calls for unity between Netanyahu and Smotrich, suggesting they were a tactic to pressure Feiglin in his negotiations with Smotrich. He claimed the public appeal was a staged event intended to lower Feiglin's demands.