Otzma Yehudit Firmly Rejects Running With Religious Zionism Ahead of Israeli Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to a meeting on Sunday to discuss uniting their right-wing factions ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. Netanyahu emphasized the need to avoid wasting votes and called for a unified right-wing bloc to ensure electoral success.

However, Otzma Yehudit swiftly issued a definitive statement rejecting any alliance with the Religious Zionism party, declaring that they will not run together in the elections under any circumstances. The party also announced that the planned meeting with Netanyahu would not take place, and no direct or indirect negotiations would occur.

Otzma Yehudit instead urged Netanyahu to pursue alternative strategies to secure a right-wing victory, such as uniting smaller right-wing factions or using reserved Knesset seats within Likud to support Smotrich. Ben-Gvir has repeatedly opposed merging with Smotrich's party, citing recent polls indicating that such a union would alienate younger voters, especially in peripheral areas.

Despite his opposition to uniting with Religious Zionism, Ben-Gvir expressed support for an alliance between Religious Zionism and the new party Amcha Israel, led by Ofer Winter. He stressed the importance of increasing right-wing strength rather than diminishing it and suggested that if Winter truly cares about the bloc, he should join forces with Smotrich.

This development highlights ongoing divisions within the Israeli right-wing camp as parties negotiate alliances ahead of the elections, with Netanyahu pushing for unity but facing resistance from key right-wing figures.