Netanyahu party in uproar as far right refuses pleas to unite

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party publicly pressured National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to run on a joint slate with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ahead of the Oct. 27 election, warning a split vote could hand power to the left. Ben Gvir refused, arguing polling shows a joint run would cost his Jewish Power party three to four seats.

The dispute comes as a new far-right party led by former general Ofer Winter draws support that could push Smotrich's Religious Zionism below the 3.25% threshold. Netanyahu invoked the 1992 election and the resulting Oslo Accords as a cautionary tale for running divided, and has invited both men to a Sunday meeting.

Smotrich and Ben Gvir have allied twice before, winning six seats in 2021 and 14 in 2022, before splitting into two parties with seven seats each. Ben Gvir, who recently drew international condemnation for comments about killing Palestinians nightly in Gaza, suggested Netanyahu instead pair Winter with Smotrich.

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