Netanyahu urges Smotrich, Ben Gvir far-right parties to reunite for elections: ‘Can’t take the risk’

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu urges the far-right Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties to reunite, after the latter declared an independent run amid jockeying between the factions over the makeup of their electoral slate.

“Run together in the elections. We can’t take the risk,” the former prime minister says in a video statement. “Only a joint run will ensure that the two parties pass the minimum vote threshold with certainty.”

Netanyahu has previously pushed for political mergers that include far-right parties in order to avoid “wasting” votes on right-wing factions that fail to enter the Knesset, including the alliance between Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit before last year’s elections.

His appeal to the parties comes as Religious Zionism holds primaries today to select its electoral list.