Netanyahu and Smotrich Forge Alliance, Worrying Ben-Gvir

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, are strengthening their cooperation by establishing a joint field operation to boost right-wing voter turnout. This initiative, centered around a "Saving the Right" conference, aims to mobilize thousands of activists and yeshiva students from the Religious Zionism movement's network of rabbis, yeshivas, and institutions. The goal is to ensure maximum participation at the polls on election day and to integrate the Likud's national election machinery with the Religious Zionism movement's extensive community infrastructure.

The conference, initially conceived as a meeting between Netanyahu and rabbis, evolved to include Smotrich after rabbis requested his participation. This ensures Smotrich is a partner in the effort, preventing a direct channel between the rabbis and Netanyahu without him. Organizers state that Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is not included because the initiative is based on the Religious Zionism movement's unique grassroots network, not political tension or a boycott.

Ben-Gvir is reportedly concerned about his standing in the next government, citing several signs. These include Netanyahu's avoidance of a joint photo with Ben-Gvir at a recent event and reports of the Prime Minister's office committing to foreign governments that Ben-Gvir would not be part of the next coalition. Ben-Gvir has publicly voiced fears that Netanyahu seeks his voters' support but wants freedom to form the government afterward.

Netanyahu's office has previously denied intentions to replace Ben-Gvir with other coalition partners, with the Prime Minister signaling that the next government would resemble the current one. The interests of the Likud and Otzma Yehudit are not entirely aligned, as Netanyahu needs Otzma Yehudit voters to remain within the right-wing bloc, while a strengthened Ben-Gvir could diminish the Likud's influence. Both parties compete for similar voters, including hawkish right-wingers, youth, and residents of the periphery.

Despite these tensions, cooperation continues when it serves the bloc's interests, such as preventing vote loss. Netanyahu recently met with Smotrich and Ben-Gvir to discuss election strategy and preventing vote wastage, partly due to the candidacy of Ofer Winter. Netanyahu is actively working on both mobilizing right-wing voters and minimizing votes lost below the threshold.