Netanyahu Denies Pressuring Smotrich to Unite Parties

A political source has vehemently denied reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressuring Religious Zionism party leader and Minister Bezalel Smotrich to merge the Noam party, led by Avi Maoz, into their joint list. The report, published by Kan Reshet Bet, claimed that Netanyahu's circle was exerting significant pressure on Smotrich to facilitate this union.

The source stated unequivocally, "The report is untrue. There is no pressure whatsoever from Netanyahu on Smotrich to add Avi Maoz, and no such activity is taking place from the Prime Minister's office." Earlier, Kan Reshet Bet had reported that Netanyahu's associates were working towards a merger between Noam and Religious Zionism. Despite no current direct negotiations between the parties, the pressure was expected to continue until the deadline for list submissions for the Knesset.

According to the initial report, Netanyahu's circle believed a merger would benefit both parties. The message conveyed was that Maoz running independently could lead to him withdrawing near the elections, and that the Likud campaign would not allow his party to grow electorally. However, the political source firmly rejected these claims, asserting no pressure from Netanyahu on this matter.