Itamar Ben Gvir Rejects Netanyahu's Call for Right-Wing Unity, Proposes Alternative Alliance

Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded on Thursday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for a right-wing electoral alliance involving Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party and Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party. Ben Gvir rejected Netanyahu's proposal, accusing the prime minister of wanting to diminish Otzma Yehudit's influence to facilitate a broader government coalition including Benny Gantz's National Unity Party. Instead, Ben Gvir suggested that Smotrich should unite with Offir Winter, leader of the Emek Israel party, to form a strong right-wing bloc capable of establishing a right-wing government after the elections.

Ben Gvir opened his response by addressing Netanyahu directly, stating, "Dear Prime Minister, we both know the truth," implying that Netanyahu's call was motivated by political calculations rather than genuine unity. He argued that only a large Otzma Yehudit and a Smotrich-Winter alliance could secure a fully right-wing government. This came after Netanyahu warned that a split among right-wing parties could cost them votes, recalling the 1992 elections when right-wing parties lost despite having more votes than the left due to fragmentation.

Netanyahu announced plans to meet with Ben Gvir and Smotrich soon to try to bridge their differences, acknowledging personal tensions between them but emphasizing the public's expectation for unity. However, Ben Gvir remains firm in maintaining Otzma Yehudit as a separate and significant party, opposing Netanyahu's vision of a smaller Otzma Yehudit within a wider coalition. The debate highlights ongoing challenges in forming a cohesive right-wing bloc ahead of upcoming elections.