Ben Gvir accuses PM of promising EU govt without Otzma Yehudit

National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir launched a sharp attack on Likud on Monday, claiming the party is running a deliberate campaign to weaken Otzma Yehudit and potentially push it below the electoral threshold.

According to Ben Gvir, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has promised European Union member states that the next government will be a unity coalition without his participation. He said the information in his possession is "verified and confirmed," and that the message was conveyed to foreign ministers and senior officials.

"Don't waste the effort, don't build on legitimacy from the left," Ben Gvir said, addressing Netanyahu. "Bibi needs a strong Ben Gvir, not a strong Eisenkot." He called on right-wing government supporters to vote for Otzma Yehudit, warning that weakening his party could open the door to a broad coalition in which the influence of the hard right would shrink.

He rejected the argument that there is a need for "the largest party" and emphasized that what matters is the number of Knesset members recommending a candidate to the president within the bloc. Likud sharply dismissed the accusations, calling them "false political spin" and "friendly fire."

The party clarified that the prime minister intends to maintain the current coalition partnership base, and that Ben Gvir will be a senior minister in the next government — provided the right-wing bloc wins. Likud sources accused Ben Gvir himself of damaging camp unity and claimed he is distracting attention from other small parties that could waste right-wing votes.

The confrontation is taking place against the backdrop of a tight election campaign, in which polls show intense competition between Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party, and an internal struggle within the right-wing bloc over every seat. Ben Gvir is trying to position Otzma Yehudit as an essential force for a full right-wing government, while Likud fears his excessive strengthening could make it harder to broaden the coalition in the future.

Last night, Otzma Yehudit activists held an unusual protest outside the home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Tel Aviv. The activists set up a protest display warning against wasted votes in the chareidi and religious sectors in the upcoming elections.

Several days ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu released a sharp video in which he exposed what he calls "the plan" of Amcha Yisrael chairman Ofer Winter and Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman. According to Netanyahu, the two politicians are "locked together" despite the mutual attacks they direct at each other in public.

Is this a familiar power play on the right ahead of election day, or a real crack that could cost the bloc seats? The answer will be clear tomorrow at the ballot box.