Itamar Ben Gvir Urges Ofer Winter to Unite with Bezalel Smotrich to Form Right-Wing Government

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister and leader of Otzma Yehudit, issued a strong warning to retired Major General Ofer Winter during a Channel 14 broadcast. Ben Gvir called on Winter to join forces with Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, emphasizing that their unity is essential for establishing a stable right-wing government. He warned that without this alliance, "there will be no right-wing government."

Ben Gvir highlighted the critical importance of this coalition for the entire right-wing bloc's future. He referenced his previous successful partnership with Smotrich in the last elections, which increased their combined Knesset seats from nine to fourteen and enabled the formation of a right-wing government. Ben Gvir cautioned that current polls indicate that if Winter and Smotrich remain separate, Winter risks losing support from ultra-Orthodox and peripheral voters, while Smotrich could lose undecided voters to Naftali Bennett.

Ben Gvir stressed that there are minimal differences between Winter and Smotrich and urged Winter to take responsibility and unite with Smotrich on a joint list. He concluded that if Winter refuses this move, it suggests he may not truly care about the right-wing bloc's fate. The call comes amid ongoing political maneuvering ahead of the 2026 elections.