Netanyahu's Likud slams Ben-Gvir over electoral alliance refusal

Israel's ruling Likud party on Friday launched a scathing attack against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for refusing to join forces with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party ahead of the October 27 elections, warning that the move could squander right-wing parliamentary seats and strengthen the opposition's hand in forming the next government.

'Burning Right-Wing Votes'

The governing party said in a statement that Ben-Gvir's decision to maintain a separate electoral list would "burn tens of thousands of right-wing votes" and effectively enthrone a coalition of leftist and Arab parties, according to Anadolu Agency. "By deciding to burn tens of thousands of right-wing votes and not unite with Smotrich, Ben-Gvir has decided today to enthrone a left-wing government of [Yashar party leader] Gadi Eisenkot, [Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor] Lieberman, [Democratic Party leader] Yair Golan, and the Arab parties," Likud said.

The party questioned whether the national security minister sought a "broad national government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu that will continue the historic momentum we achieved in settlement in Judea and Samaria," or whether he would "for personal considerations, will burn right-wing votes to enthrone a left-wing government?" Addressing Ben-Gvir directly, Likud warned that an "Eisenkot-Lieberman-Yair Golan and Arab parties government will evict you from your home, Itamar. It will establish a Palestinian state. It will capitulate to every international dictate. It will destroy everything we've built."

Polling Concerns

Opinion polls currently project Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party to win nine of the Knesset's 120 seats, while a survey published Friday by Israeli daily Maariv indicated that Smotrich's Religious Zionism party might fail to clear the electoral threshold. Such a result would weaken the bloc supporting Netanyahu's return to government and bolster the opposition's chances of forming the next coalition. "Overcome the personal ego," Netanyahu's party urged Ben-Gvir, adding: "Show maturity and responsibility."

Netanyahu's Legal Troubles

The October 27 election is widely viewed as critical to Prime Minister Netanyahu's political survival as he confronts criminal charges including bribery, fraud and breach of trust alongside an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The 76-year-old premier has led what is widely described as Israel's most right-wing government in history since December 2022.