Michael Ben-Ari Disappointed by Right-Wing Political Union

A political union formed between Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin has sparked disappointment and anger among associates of Dr. Michael Ben-Ari and Baruch Marzel. Sources close to Ben-Ari told Srugim that the new union does not represent them, and they do not intend to vote for the list in its current form. Ben-Ari's circle expressed deep disappointment, claiming he was not considered at all during the agreement negotiations. This comes after Ben-Ari and Feiglin announced a joint run under the Identity party banner in May. Ben-Ari's associates assert that since his joining Identity, the party's standing in polls has surged, with some surveys showing its strength doubling or tripling. They find it difficult to understand how the new agreement was finalized without Ben-Ari's inclusion, given his perceived contribution to the party's growth. The narrative from Ben-Ari's camp is one of "use and discard": they allege he joined Identity when it was weaker, helped strengthen it, but was left out when the political deal with Smotrich was struck.

Associates of Ben-Ari and Marzel emphasize that their political journey is not over. They are currently working to promote further alliances on the right, exploring options for Ben-Ari to run within a different political framework. They reiterated that, as things stand, the Smotrich-Feiglin union does not represent them and they will not vote for it. Baruch Marzel stated in an interview that he would support and work for any party that includes Michael Ben-Ari. Further developments regarding potential new political alliances on the right and Ben-Ari's political future are expected soon.