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Israel’s Jewish Power Party rejects call for an electoral alliance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to unite to prevent the right-wing bloc from losing votes in the election. The Jewish Power Party announced that the two parties would not run together and that the decision was final.
Ahead of parliamentary elections planned for next October in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to unite to prevent the right-wing bloc from losing votes.
Netanyahu called for the Jewish Power Party, led by National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, and the Religious Zionism Party, led by Finance Minister Smotrich, to meet on Sunday. The prime minister said no votes should be wasted in the election and that the right-wing bloc needed to be preserved.
Jewish Power declares decision final
Netanyahu also called for the two parties to unite on Thursday evening. Ben-Gvir rejected the call.
In a statement on Friday, the Jewish Power Party announced that it would not run in the upcoming election together with the Religious Zionism Party. The statement said the decision was final and would not change under any circumstances. It also said there would be no direct or indirect contact, meeting or talks on the matter.
Poll points to seat losses for right-wing bloc
According to a poll published by the Maariv newspaper, the Religious Zionism Party could lose seats in the election as the newly formed right-leaning Israel’s People Party is projected to win five seats. This could also reduce the number of seats held by the current governing coalition.
Retired Brigadier General Ofer Vinter, a former commander of the Givati Brigade, founded the Israel’s People Party on August 25 to contest the elections.
The poll projects Netanyahu’s bloc to win 43 seats. If Vinter’s party joins the bloc, the total would rise to 48, but that would still fall short of the majority needed to form a government. Jewish opposition parties would win 59 seats, while Arab parties would secure 13.
Election plan critical to Netanyahu’s future
Israel’s general elections are scheduled to take place on October 27. The election is considered critical to the political future of Netanyahu, who faces allegations of corruption, authoritarianism and failure.
The current government is described as the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. Netanyahu has served as prime minister since the end of December 2022 and is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
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