Marzel backs Smotrich over Ben Gvir in veiled criticism

Baruch Marzel, co-founder of the Otzma Yehudit party and a former close associate of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, announced in a video that he will vote for Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party in the upcoming elections.

In his remarks, Marzel praised Smotrich while leveling veiled criticism at Ben Gvir's political style, without mentioning him by name.

Marzel said that in the previous election he chose not to vote at all, because he found no party worthy of his support. This time, he described the election as 'fateful' and warned against forces that he said seek to harm the Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and the identity of the Jewish people.

Explaining his decision to back Smotrich, Marzel argued that Religious Zionism is the only party that has kept its promises. "It didn't talk much, without noise and bells," he said, listing what he called its achievements in settlement in Judea and Samaria, security, the economy, and Judaism.

Marzel was placed second on the Otzma Yehudit list ahead of the 22nd Knesset elections, but his candidacy was disqualified for a second time by the High Court on grounds of incitement to racism. Since Ben Gvir's appointment as National Security Minister, Marzel has sharpened his criticism of him. He has said in the past: "Ben Gvir is busy with public relations, he has a new ideology."