Itamar Ben Gvir Plans New Hybrid Primary System for Otzma Yehudit Ahead of Elections

Itamar Ben Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit and current minister, is preparing to launch a new mechanism for selecting the party's Knesset list. The system will combine a traditional organizing committee with a primary election process open to all party members, allowing even new entrants to run without a cooling-off period. In recent days, Ben Gvir has been meeting with candidates and interested parties to present and explain the proposed framework.

Despite the introduction of primaries, Ben Gvir is expected to maintain significant control over the final list composition, as the organizing committee will still hold considerable influence. This hybrid approach also serves a political purpose, enabling Ben Gvir to manage the influx of candidates seeking to join Otzma Yehudit ahead of the elections by channeling them into a structured competition.

The new system aims to present Otzma Yehudit as a more active and open party to the public, while preserving Ben Gvir's ability to shape the candidate list. Details such as the full rules, committee makeup, timelines, and candidate selection methods are yet to be finalized and will be announced soon. Currently, the party's Knesset members include Ben Gvir, Yitzhak Kroizer, Limor Son Har-Melech, Tzvika Fogel, and Yitzhak Wasserlauf, with some incumbents likely to retain favored status under the new system. Otzma Yehudit has not yet issued an official response to inquiries about the changes.