Far-Right Parties Forge Joint Knesset Run Ahead of Elections

Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir announced Tuesday they will run together on a joint technical bloc for the upcoming Knesset elections. The agreement reportedly allocates the second and eighth spots on the slate to Ben-Gvir's party. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to attempt to bring other right-wing factions into the alliance, including the Noam party led by Avi Maoz. Smotrich's camp is also reportedly exploring a potential merger with Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party, though prospects for this are considered slim. Ben-Gvir has so far refused to join any unification talks or agreements, indicating potential challenges in consolidating the right-wing bloc.