Otzma Yehudit Leader Ben-Gvir Urged to Unite Right-Wing Parties Before Election Deadline

With the deadline for submitting party lists for the upcoming Knesset elections rapidly approaching, a prominent Israeli political commentator is urging National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to unite all right-wing factions. The commentator, Yaakov Bardugo, writing for Channel 14, argues that despite Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, consistently passing the electoral threshold in recent polls, his refusal to agree to a comprehensive union could jeopardize the entire right-wing bloc's chances of forming a stable government.

Bardugo contends that Ben-Gvir's confidence, based on current poll numbers, is a dangerous illusion. He emphasizes that the crucial question is not whether Otzma Yehudit will cross the threshold, but rather how to ensure no votes are wasted and a strong national government can be established. The commentator points to recent polls showing a significant surge for the right-wing bloc, suggesting it is numerically larger than the left, but warns that this advantage could be lost without unity.

Ben-Gvir, who serves in the security cabinet, is described as understanding the gravity of the situation. However, Bardugo criticizes his current stance, characterizing it as a dangerous entrenchment that echoes past failures where stubbornness led to the collapse of entire political movements. He draws a parallel to a historical mistake attributed to Merav Michaeli, implying Ben-Gvir risks a similar outcome.

The article stresses that time is running out and that Ben-Gvir must demonstrate leadership by rising above narrow party interests and initiating a broad union of all parties to the right of the Likud. Bardugo concludes that if the right loses the election due to wasted votes, no one will remember the poll predictions, and the responsibility for salvaging the bloc rests squarely on Ben-Gvir's shoulders.