Otzma Yehudit says it won’t join United Right, blames Bennett for failed talks

1 August 2019, 8:33 pm

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Otzma Yehudit party chief Itamar Ben Gvir announces that attempts to reach a merger deal with the United Right have failed, and his far-right faction will run on its own in the upcoming elections.

“There were officials who, for reasons of ego, blew this matter up and I aim the blame at [United Right candidate] Naftali Bennett. He apparently has an agreement with [Blue and White No. 2] Yair Lapid and I really hope that he doesn’t establish a unity government with him,” Ben Gvir tells reporters.

Lapid and other Blue and White leaders have called on Bennett and United Right chair Ayelet Shaked to avoid merging with Otzma Yehudit, and have said that they would be willing to sit in a government with the two of them.

— Jacob Magid