Ben-Gvir Slams Political Assassination Attempt After Election Candidacy Upheld

Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir sharply criticized a decision by the Central Elections Committee on Thursday, which rejected requests to disqualify his party from running in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. Ben-Gvir accused Prime Minister Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of hypocrisy, noting they abstained from voting on disqualifying the Arab Ra'am party and the Joint List the previous night, but supported disqualifying his party on Thursday.

"It's unbelievable," Ben-Gvir stated, "Yesterday, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid abstained from voting on disqualifying Ra'am and the Joint List. And today they are in favor of disqualifying me."

He linked the committee's vote to an alleged assassination attempt against him discussed the day prior, declaring, "Yesterday it was revealed they tried to murder me, today they tried to politically assassinate me." Ben-Gvir vowed to continue his political path despite the attempt to disqualify his party, stating, "I will continue against their will, I will continue to act for the people of Israel, the land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel. Thank you very much."

The committee's decision followed deliberations on two petitions seeking to ban Otzma Yehudit from the elections. The petitions, filed by Zulat and Democrats, cited two grounds for disqualification: denying the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and inciting racism. After the debate, a vote was held where 10 committee members supported disqualification, 19 opposed it, and one abstained. The committee subsequently rejected the petitions, allowing Otzma Yehudit to participate in the elections.