Itamar Ben Gvir Criticizes Likud's Election Slogan, Warns Against Unity Government

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister and leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, sharply criticized the Likud party's newly revealed election slogan, "Likud, a broad national government." He described the slogan as "very troubling," interpreting it as Prime Minister Netanyahu's intention to form a government including Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot. Ben Gvir warned that such a unity government would doom judicial reforms and represent a complete victory for left-wing figures like Gali Baharav-Miara and Yitzhak Amit.

Ben Gvir further accused Eisenkot and Gantz of being fully left-wing, citing their past actions in government that allegedly undermined Israeli military operations and demanded total concessions to Hamas. He emphasized that right-wing voters deserve a right-wing government instead.

Meanwhile, opposition voices also criticized the Likud slogan. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, mocked Netanyahu's slogan by calling it a "broad evasion alliance" in the Knesset, implying Netanyahu's reluctance to take decisive action.

The debate highlights tensions within Israeli politics ahead of upcoming elections, with right-wing factions opposing any coalition including centrist or left-leaning figures like Gantz and Eisenkot. The slogan has sparked controversy over the direction of the next government and the future of judicial reforms in Israel.