Officials in Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party claim that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering forming a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot after the elections.
The officials allege that Likud is working to weaken Otzma Yehudit electorally in order to make such a partnership easier.
According to the party, Ben Gvir has become increasingly convinced over the past month that Likud is attempting to isolate his party and diminish its political strength. They say messages from Netanyahu’s inner circle have reinforced those concerns.
Otzma Yehudit officials are particularly skeptical of Netanyahu’s pledge to base his next government on the parties currently in his coalition. They point to Likud’s recent emphasis on forming a “broad government,” rather than its previous promise to establish an exclusively right-wing coalition.
The officials claim that weakening Otzma Yehudit at the ballot box would clear the way for Netanyahu to pursue a partnership with Eisenkot, who has not ruled out joining a Netanyahu-led government.
They also point to Netanyahu’s recent reluctance to appear publicly alongside Ben Gvir.
Otzma Yehudit says such a move would not be unprecedented, noting that Netanyahu has previously served in governments with Labor and Yesh Atid and attempted to form a unity government with Benny Gantz.
Some party officials go further, claiming that Netanyahu has already decided to seek an agreement with Eisenkot. They say such a coalition would require abandoning several right-wing priorities, including judicial reform and efforts to remove the attorney general.
They also believe Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich could join such a government if offered a senior position. Ben Gvir, however, would reportedly be unable to participate in a coalition that abandons policies such as judicial reform and encouraging emigration.
Otzma Yehudit officials therefore contend that despite Netanyahu’s public commitment to maintaining the current coalition, he is already laying the groundwork for a future unity government with Eisenkot.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
One Response
That’s how politics works in a parliamentary system. Ben Gevir (and the Hareidim) should be prepared to “charge less” for their support, in Netanyahu has a credible bid from Eisenkot.