Otzma Yehudit Submits Knesset List, Including Former Likud MK

Otzma Yehudit party leader and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir submitted his party's list for the upcoming Knesset elections on Monday afternoon. He announced that his chief of staff, Adv. Hananel Dorfman, will be placed seventh on the list. As previously declared by Ben-Gvir over the weekend, MK Tally Gotlieb, who recently left the Likud party, has been placed second. Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf is listed third, Minister Amichai Eliyahu fourth, and MK Limor Son Har-Melech fifth.

Earlier, Brig. Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter submitted the "Am Israel" party list, effectively ending possibilities for further mergers and alliances within the right-wing bloc. Yosef Haddad is listed second on Winter's party list, Netali Shem Tov third, and Adv. Eran Ben-Ari fourth.

Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, expressed regret over Winter's decision to run independently, stating it "gambles with the future of the right-wing government and the State of Israel." Smotrich warned that "the only ones who might benefit from Winter's refusal to unite in the national camp are Gali Baharav-Miara, Yitzhak Amit, and their friends on the left." He added that Winter's "stubborn refusal of any unity proposal in the national camp is very disappointing and casts a heavy shadow over his judgment and the credibility of his promise to recommend Netanyahu for prime minister and to only go with the national camp."

The "Am Israel" party responded to Smotrich, stating, "The people of Israel seek to refresh the ranks. We appreciate your work and will not stoop to fear-mongering. You too must recognize and admit that the public wants new people, those who were not part of the events that led us to October 7th, those who can lead to a decision in Gaza, to the integration of the Haredim into the IDF, and to address the various challenges that were not dealt with in the previous term. It is time to bring a new spirit to the right-wing camp and the Knesset."