Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Ben Gvir says Smotrich to blame for lack of far-right unity: ‘There’s no partner’
Far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir attends a protest in support of police officers in Tel Aviv, August 16, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
Responding to opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Otzma Yehudit chief Itamar Ben Gvir blames Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich for the lack of a unity deal between their far-right parties.
“We tried every way until we understood there is no partner,” he says in a statement.
“Bezalel is interested in [Amichai] Chikli and is negotiating with him,” Ben Gvir adds, referring to the former Yamina lawmaker. “We respect his decision.”
