Itamar Ben Gvir Rejects Unity Talks with Smotrich Ahead of Israeli Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, leaders of Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionist Party respectively, to meet on Sunday to discuss uniting their electoral lists. However, Ben Gvir promptly declined not only the unity proposal but also the meeting itself, issuing a firm statement that Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionist Party will not run together in the upcoming Knesset elections. The decision is final, and no direct or indirect negotiations will take place.

Netanyahu's invitation emphasized the importance of not wasting any votes, but behind the scenes, it became clear that Ofer Winter, head of the newly launched Amcha Israel party, opposes any alliance with the Religious Zionist Party, further complicating unification efforts. Ben Gvir advised Netanyahu to pursue other options, such as uniting smaller right-wing factions or using reserved slots within Likud for Smotrich to secure a right-wing victory and form a genuine right-wing government.

If both Winter and Ben Gvir maintain their refusal to unite with Smotrich, who polls near the electoral threshold and has expressed willingness to form alliances as in 2022, Netanyahu may have to consider merging the Religious Zionist Party list into Likud. This development marks a peak in tensions between Netanyahu and Ben Gvir, which surfaced earlier in the week during an event commemorating the Altalena shipwreck. Netanyahu delayed Ben Gvir's national security ministerial declaration, took full credit for locating the shipwreck, and later gave a separate statement without Ben Gvir, who expressed feeling snubbed.

Ben Gvir publicly criticized Netanyahu's reluctance to appear with him, referencing historical persecution and the political rift. The standoff highlights growing divisions within the right-wing camp ahead of the elections and complicates Netanyahu's efforts to consolidate right-wing votes.