Ben Gvir Critiques Netanyahu's Strategy to Attract Right-Wing Voters

Itamar Ben Gvir, the chairman of Otzma Yehudit and Israel's National Security Minister, has publicly criticized the Likud party's attempts to attract voters away from his party. He claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to form a broad coalition with Gadi Eisenkot, which would limit Ben Gvir's influence in the government.

In a Facebook post shared just before the start of Shabbat, Ben Gvir called on his supporters to reject what he termed Likud's campaign to siphon votes from smaller right-wing parties. He expressed concern that a decline in support for Otzma Yehudit could result in his exclusion from the next government.

Ben Gvir stated, "I need your help to ensure that Ben Gvir is part of the next government," emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong presence for his party in the Knesset. He accused Netanyahu of signaling that he does not intend to retain Ben Gvir in his current role as National Security Minister or appoint him to the Defense Ministry, while simultaneously expressing interest in a coalition with Eisenkot.

The National Security Minister framed the situation as a critical choice for voters: either support a strong Ben Gvir in the government or allow Eisenkot to gain influence. He dismissed the argument that right-wing voters should consolidate their support behind Likud, asserting that the number of Knesset members recommending a candidate to the President is what truly matters in forming a government.

Ben Gvir's Polling Strategy Explained

To bolster his argument, Ben Gvir referenced a Channel 14 poll indicating that Likud could secure 30 seats while Eisenkot's party might receive 20. He presented this as a significant advantage for Likud, arguing that it demonstrates the importance of not abandoning smaller parties like his own.

Ben Gvir reassured his supporters that voting for Otzma Yehudit does not contradict support for Netanyahu as Prime Minister. He stated, "Every vote for Itamar Ben Gvir is automatically a vote for Bibi as Prime Minister," while cautioning that a decrease in his party's electoral strength would hinder his ability to influence government policy.

Approved for Dissemination

In his post, Ben Gvir also highlighted his achievements over the past four years, claiming to have fundamentally changed the right wing's approach to governance. He pointed to his calls for the dismissal of the Attorney General, reforms in the prison system, demolitions of illegal structures in the Negev, and the distribution of civilian firearms as evidence of his impact.

He asserted that during his tenure, 10,000 illegally constructed homes have been demolished in the Negev, and 300,000 firearms have been issued to Israeli civilians. These figures, however, have not been independently verified. Ben Gvir concluded his message with a direct appeal to voters, urging them to empower him for a stronger presence in the next government.