Foreign interference or a warm recommendation? Ben Gvir picks his own candidates in Likud and films videos for them

Itamar Ben Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit, recorded support and recommendation videos for ten ministers and Knesset members running in the Likud primaries, including Eli Cohen, May Golan, Ofir Katz, Amir Ohana, Idit Silman, Shlomo Karhi, Tally Gotliv, Nissim Vaturi, Shashen Guetta, and Osher Shkalim. The move is unusual since Ben Gvir is not a Likud member. His associates confirm that some candidates requested the support but refuse to reveal who. The remaining videos were recorded on his own initiative. They deny any attempt to interfere in the primaries and define it as praise for partners in the way.

Itamar Ben Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit, recently recorded a series of support and recommendation videos for ministers and Knesset members running in the Likud party primaries. The list of "Ben Gvir's recommended" includes ministers and MKs Eli Cohen, May Golan, Ofir Katz, Amir Ohana, Idit Silman, Shlomo Karhi, Tally Gotliv, Nissim Vaturi, Shashen Guetta, and Osher Shkalim. In the videos, recorded ahead of the vote, Ben Gvir expresses support for the candidates and calls on Likud members to back them. The move is relatively unusual, as Ben Gvir is not a Likud member but heads a separate party, Otzma Yehudit, which also competes for right-wing votes. Ben Gvir's associates confirm that some MKs approached him and asked him to record a support video, but they refuse to reveal who. According to them, the remaining videos were recorded on Ben Gvir's own initiative, as he sought to express support for people he identifies with or cooperates with. Ben Gvir's associates explain that there is no attempt to "interfere" in another party's primaries, but rather a desire to praise and strengthen partners in the way. In their view, the videos also reflect the relationship built in recent years between the Otzma Yehudit chairman and a number of ministers and MKs in Likud.