Ben Gvir Rejects Netanyahu's Call for Unity with Smotrich

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended an invitation to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of Otzma Yehudit and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party for meetings scheduled on Sunday. The aim is to promote a joint electoral run ahead of the upcoming elections. Netanyahu emphasized the importance of unity, stating, "We must not waste a single vote. We must unite in order to save the right-wing bloc!".

In response, Otzma Yehudit quickly dismissed the invitation, declaring that the party and the Religious Zionist Party would not collaborate in the elections. They characterized their decision as "final and absolute," asserting that there would be no negotiations or discussions regarding a joint run.

Otzma Yehudit proposed two alternatives to Netanyahu: either to unite the smaller parties or to utilize the reserved spots on the Likud slate for Smotrich. These suggestions were made to ensure that votes within the right-wing camp are not wasted, with the party urging Netanyahu to advance these options to secure a victory for the right and establish a true right-wing government.

Contrasting Ben Gvir's stance, Smotrich responded positively to Netanyahu's call for unity, stating, "It is time for unity and responsibility in the nationalist camp." This divergence highlights the tensions within the right-wing bloc as they navigate the electoral landscape.