Netanyahu Associates Reportedly Offer Unity Without Ben Gvir; Likud Denies

Associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly conveyed messages to Gadi Eisenkot, the Yashar leader holding the mandate to form a government, that Likud would not insist on Otzma Yehudit joining if unity-government talks begin. The reported message was disclosed on Wednesday evening. Likud denied the account. Likud called the report “a complete lie” and said Netanyahu had called for unity on the basis of the right-wing bloc’s parties. Netanyahu has stepped up his appeals in recent days for a unity government with parties from the change bloc, according to the report. In the reported private exchange, an unnamed figure from the change bloc questioned how leaving Ben Gvir out would fit Netanyahu’s campaign pledge to retain his partners. The response reportedly referred to international criticism of Ben Gvir and said he would not join. During the election campaign, Netanyahu had promised to keep his partners in any government he formed, naming Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich. He had also said Ben Gvir would not receive the internal-security, defense or justice portfolios. Ben Gvir had demanded the defense portfolio during the campaign.