Itamar Ben Gvir Reveals Four Likud Ministers and MPs Asked to Join Otzma Yehudit Ahead of Primaries

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister and leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, disclosed in a radio interview on Sunday that four current ministers and four Likud Knesset members approached him seeking to join Otzma Yehudit. Ben Gvir attributed their interest to the strong polling numbers his party has been achieving. However, he expressed reservations about one Likud MK, Almog Cohen, who moved in the opposite direction by leaving Otzma Yehudit for Likud. Ben Gvir recounted his efforts to secure Cohen a realistic spot on the joint list with Religious Zionism, despite opposition from Bezalel Smotrich, who preferred candidates wearing a kippah. Ben Gvir said, "After fighting so hard for Almog, to have him take my mandate and transfer it to Likud is not how one behaves." Earlier on Sunday, Walla reported that Ben Gvir had recorded a series of endorsement videos supporting several Likud ministers and MKs running in the upcoming Likud primaries. The list of his "recommended" candidates includes ministers and MKs such as Eli Cohen, May Golan, Ofir Katz, Amir Ohana, Idith Silman, Shlomo Karhi, Tali Gottlieb, Nissim Vaturi, Sasson Guetta, and Osher Shekalim. Ben Gvir urged Likud members to back these candidates, a notable move given that he leads a separate right-wing party competing for votes against Likud. With the primaries just days away, Ben Gvir is signaling which Likud figures he wants to see strengthened within the party.