Netanyahu Pushes Smotrich-Ben Gvir Union in Return for Likud Entrenchment Slots

Netanyahu is preparing for elections, and the looming challenge at this stage is Bezalel Smotrich, who is not at all certain to cross the electoral threshold. Netanyahu’s proposal is a merger between Ben Gvir and Smotrich in exchange for reserved slots in Likud for their people.

Netanyahu fears that Smotrich will fail to cross the threshold and lead to a “waste” of votes for the coalition, which could cost him in the election. The prime minister has offered two reserved spots to Ben Gvir and Smotrich, including at the expense of reserved spots for Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, whose party colleague Zeev Elkin would then have to run.

The proposal comes against the backdrop of the fact that both Ben Gvir and Smotrich are not interested in joining forces. Ben Gvir knows he can win 8 to 10 seats on his own, and Smotrich does not want the deal because he would be in second place.

Netanyahu is nevertheless offering them to join forces, and says the merger would be technical only and that they could split after the election. In return, each of them would receive a reserved spot in Likud, and one of their people would be placed on the list of the strongest party in the bloc in the next Knesset.