Itamar Ben-Gvir Rules Out Joint Election Run with Bezalel Smotrich, Citing Different Electorates
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has announced that he will not pursue another joint election campaign with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party. Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, stated that the two parties cater to fundamentally different voter bases. He emphasized that while Smotrich appeals to a specific sector within religious Zionism, his own party aims to reach a broader audience, including secular and traditional Israelis. Ben-Gvir also expressed concerns about the potential weakening of a right-wing government if the parties were to merge again. He highlighted his influence on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, particularly in security matters, and criticized the idea of a broad unity government, which he believes could hinder judicial reforms and other initiatives. 
