Netanyahu and Smotrich Meet Rabbis Without Ben-Gvir

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich appeared together Thursday at a Jerusalem election conference attended by dozens of religious-Zionist rabbanim and heads of Torah institutions. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was neither invited nor informed of the gathering, Kan News reported.

Held under the banner "Saving the Right," the event focused on Election Day strategy: raising voter turnout and coordinating efforts between Likud and Religious Zionism. "The participation of the rabbanim is important to the success of the entire bloc," organizers stated in the invitation.

According to Arutz Sheva, Netanyahu initially sought to meet the rabbis alone, but they requested Smotrich's presence as well. Unable to secure the meeting independently, he reached out to Smotrich, who agreed to participate. The gathering took place at Jerusalem's Ramada Hotel.

Rav Elyakim Levanon shlita corroborated this account Thursday in an interview with Yossi Ben Atar on Kan Moreshet, JFeed reported. He described the meeting as Netanyahu's initiative: "People from his office invited the rabbanim, and they asked to bring Smotrich in." Regarding Ben-Gvir's absence, Rav Levanon added, "If they had asked me, I would have said to invite him. Smotrich represents Religious Zionism more, but Ben-Gvir also deserves to be at a meeting like this."

Kan News linked the exclusion to escalating tensions between Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu. Otzma Yehudit officials characterized it as further evidence of efforts to marginalize the party ahead of coalition negotiations.

The incident follows Tuesday's surplus-vote agreement between Likud and Religious Zionism-Zehut, which left Otzma Yehudit without a partner. In response, the party stated: "Unfortunately, Likud refused to sign a surplus-vote agreement with Otzma Yehudit as part of Likud's attempt to weaken Otzma Yehudit and keep Ben-Gvir out of the unity government that Likud is planning with Eisenkot."

Also Thursday, Likud and Religious Zionism launched a joint voter mobilization campaign that excludes Otzma Yehudit. Netanyahu and Smotrich are leading the effort alongside Israel Gantz, aiming to bring out approximately five seats' worth of right-wing voters who otherwise would not have cast ballots.