Ultranationalist Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir announced Aug. 15 that his Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) faction would run alone in the upcoming Nov. 1 elections. In the last elections, extreme-right Otzma Yehudit allied with the Religious Zionism party, headed by Bezalel Smotrich. Now Ben Gvir has accused Smotrich of failing to negotiate in good faith on a continued alliance.
He said, “I have tried every way to achieve unity between us, but since Bezalel has rejected every concession, I declare tonight with a full heart that Otzma Yehudit will run by itself in the elections.”
