Ben Gvir, Smotrich to fully coordinate in coalition talks with Netanyahu’s Likud – report

Religious Zionism MK Bezalel Smotrich and Otzma Yehudit’s Itamar Ben Gvir will be fully coordinated as they enter coalition negotiations, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The two far-right factions ran on a joint list but are expected to split again after the election.

The report says the two have vowed to back each others’ demands to Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who is reportedly looking to put together a coalition quickly after his right-religious bloc appeared to have won a resounding victory.

Smotrich and Ben Gvir have agreed that either they both enter the coalition or neither of them do, Kan reports.

Some reports in recent weeks have suggested that Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit could be excluded from the coalition in favor of Benny Gantz’s National Unity party, but both the defense minister and opposition leader have publicly quashed the idea.