28.08.2026 01:40
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to run on a joint list, arguing that power could be lost if the far right splits in the upcoming elections. Ben-Gvir, in turn, accused Netanyahu of trying to form a "national unity government" with Gadi Eisenkot and claimed that an alliance with Smotrich would cost the right 3-4 seats. The mutual statements between the two figures have heightened political tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video posted on his account on the US-based X company's social media platform, said that far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power Party and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism Party must enter the elections with a joint list.
NETANYAHU'S CALL FOR A "JOINT LIST"
Claiming that the right wing wins when it acts together and loses when it is divided, Netanyahu argued that in the 1992 elections, the Israeli right lost despite receiving more votes than the left because it was divided, and that the Oslo Accords were signed for this reason.
Netanyahu, suggesting that the same scenario could happen in this election, stated that he would bring Ben-Gvir and Smotrich together in the coming days and called on them to put aside their differences and participate in the elections with a joint list.
Religious Zionism Party leader Smotrich responded to Netanyahu's call with the statement, "It is time for unity and responsibility in the national camp."
BEN-GVIR ACCUSED NETANYAHU OF TRYING TO FORM A "NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT" WITH EISENKOT
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir responded to Netanyahu on his X account, saying, "Mr. Prime Minister, I did not understand your video."
Accusing Netanyahu of trying to weaken the "strong Jewish Power Party" to form a broad "national unity government" with Eisenkot, Ben-Gvir noted that he had met with Netanyahu several times in recent weeks and stated that according to public opinion polls, he would lose 3-4 seats if he merged with Smotrich.
Ben-Gvir claimed that the best way to use the right-wing votes is for Ofer Winter and Smotrich to enter the election with a joint list, writing, "The Land of Israel is in danger. The people of Israel are in danger. The State of Israel is in danger. I will do everything to prevent you from forming a government with Eisenkot!"
NETANYAHU RESPONDED TO BEN-GVIR
Responding to Ben-Gvir on his X account, Netanyahu replied with the same words, saying, "I did not understand your video. Are you saying that I want a 'weak Jewish Power' because I called on you to merge with Smotrich? Quite the opposite."
Netanyahu argued that the Ben-Gvir-Smotrich alliance would strengthen the right wing and that if he did not merge with Smotrich, who is on the threshold of the electoral threshold, Eisenkot would form a coalition with Yair Golan and the Arab parties.
Writing, like Ben-Gvir, "The Land of Israel is in danger. The people of Israel are in danger. The State of Israel is in danger," Netanyahu accused Ben-Gvir of risking the country for his personal ambitions.