Full Breakdown
Netanyahu’s Drive to Unite the Far-Right Ahead of Israel’s 2026 Election
9/1/2026, 6:16:59 AM
Core Event: Prime Minister’s Call for a Joint Ben-Gvir/Smotrich List
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to meet on a Sunday to discuss forming a joint electoral list ahead of the October 27 election. He framed the alliance as essential to “save the right-wing bloc” and warned that a split would waste votes and enable a left-wing government.
Background: Fragmented Right-Wing Landscape
Israel’s right-wing camp is split among Likud, Religious Zionism (led by Smotrich), Otzma Yehudit (led by Ben Gvir), and the newly launched People of Israel party of former IDF general Ofer Winter. Past technical alliances—such as the 2022 joint Otzma Yehudit-Religious Zionism slate that won 14 seats—have collapsed, leaving each faction to vie for a share of the 3.25 % electoral threshold.
Timeline of Key Moves
- June 15, 2026 – MK Tally Gotliv debated her immunity before the Knesset House Committee, accusing Netanyahu of sidelining her from the Likud list.
- August 17, 2026 – Likud released a video likening opposition criticism to school bullying, urging voters to “End the boycotts.”
- August 18 – Likud primaries were held; Netanyahu publicly opposed Gotliv and fellow MK May Golan, a move described by sources as a “dramatic political assassination attempt.”
- October 27 (scheduled) – Netanyahu’s invitation to Smotrich and Ben Gvir for a joint-list meeting.
Official Statements & Responses
Netanyahu warned that “only a large Otzma Yehudit, together with Smotrich and Ofer Winter running together, can form a fully right-wing government.” Gotliv claimed the prime minister used his authority to exclude her from the Likud campaign and block her appointment as justice minister.
Criticism & Opposition
Ben Gvir’s refusal was presented as a stand against compromising his party’s identity, while Likud portrayed it as personal ego jeopardizing the bloc. Analysts at Nimrod Nir noted that 4,617 respondents indicated 69 % of potential People of Israel voters came from the pro-Netanyahu camp, suggesting Winter’s entry could siphon votes without threatening the right-wing majority.
A Zman Yisrael poll placed Eisenkot at 26 seats, Likud at 22, and gave Winter six seats, while Religious Zionism fell below the threshold. The poll highlighted the risk that fragmented small parties could waste votes, echoing Netanyahu’s warnings.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They will evacuate your house, Itamar,” — Likud, prime-ministerial office
- “'" "Only a large Otzma Yehudit, together with Smotrich and Ofer Winter running together, only in this way can a fully right-wing government be formed," Ben-Gvir said.” — Itamar Ben-Gvir
- “Smotrich is on the verge of the electoral threshold,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Gotliv alleges Netanyahu promised a pardon in exchange for abandoning judicial reform, a claim Likud denies. Netanyahu cites poll data supporting a joint list, but the specific polls are not identified, leaving the magnitude of the alleged vote-wasting effect unclear.
What’s Next
Netanyahu’s invitation sets a meeting for the Sunday following the October 27 announcement. The outcome will determine whether the right-wing parties present a unified front or continue to fragment, shaping the balance of power in the upcoming Knesset election.
