Baruch Marzel Reveals Vote That Split Otzma Yehudit Leadership and Criticizes Itamar Ben-Gvir

Baruch Marzel, a founding member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, publicly responded to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir a week after Ben-Gvir declared a political split from Marzel and Michael Ben-Ari. Marzel accused Ben-Gvir of abandoning the party's ideological path for political power, contrasting Ben-Gvir's claim of wanting to "manage and act" with Marzel's assertion that Ben-Gvir mainly "shouts and protests." Marzel acknowledged Ben-Gvir's achievements, such as reforms in prisons, but emphasized their core disagreement centers on ideology rather than protest tactics.

Marzel identified a key fracture point during a party leadership vote after Ben-Gvir first entered the Knesset, where Ben-Gvir supported relying on the Arab party Ra'am to form a government, a position opposed by most of the leadership. After losing that vote, Ben-Gvir allegedly stopped convening party institutions and appointed himself party chairman without legal authority. Marzel said he and others did not pursue legal action due to distrust in the judicial system and advice from Rabbi Dov Lior.

Marzel stressed that the Otzma Yehudit name belongs to the original founders, who invested resources to establish it, but he no longer supports the current party under Ben-Gvir, stating, "We support the path, not the name." He accused Ben-Gvir of abandoning Rabbi Meir Kahane's ideology and becoming "another Likudnik," citing Ben-Gvir's support for Amir Ohana in Likud primaries and his conduct after Ohana became Knesset Speaker.

Despite harsh criticism of Ben-Gvir, Marzel praised Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Minister Ayelet Shaked for significant achievements in Judea and Samaria, though he still faulted them and Netanyahu for missing a "historic opportunity" to promote voluntary Gaza evacuation. Ahead of elections, Marzel declared support for any list including Michael Ben-Ari, rejecting the idea that small parties waste right-wing votes and calling for a united right-wing bloc or technical list among small parties to avoid vote splitting.

Marzel warned that failure to unite could lead to right-wing losses and predicted Netanyahu would likely lose the prime ministership but preferred him over Gadi Eizenkot. He expressed openness to joining a technical bloc with Smotrich if it aligns ideologically.

Summary: Baruch Marzel revealed a pivotal vote supporting reliance on Ra'am that split Otzma Yehudit leadership, criticized Itamar Ben-Gvir for abandoning ideological principles, and called for right-wing party unity ahead of elections.