Netanyahu's Bloc in Danger: While Ben Gvir Committed to Sit with PM, Smotrich Evaded

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich refrained from committing to sit in a government led by Gadi Eisenkot, while Itamar Ben Gvir committed to sitting with Netanyahu. Smotrich is building a campaign on fear of Eisenkot, warning of a 'huge fraud' and of dismantling farms in the West Bank. The article assesses that relations with Netanyahu are fragile and could collapse if there are no 61 votes.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich refrained from committing to sit in a government led by Gadi Eisenkot, while Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir has already committed to sitting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Smotrich is building his election campaign on fear of a government led by Eisenkot, warning right-wing voters of a 'huge fraud', claiming that behind Eisenkot's statesmanlike image hides a dangerous left-wing government. He even claimed that such a government would dismantle farms in the West Bank, expel Jews, and dismantle Israel's 'security belt'. However, the article notes that almost all his publications against Eisenkot are aimed mainly at the emerging partnership with Yair Golan's 'Democrats' or Mansour Abbas's Ra'am. Relations between Netanyahu and Smotrich include a deep layer of distrust, and if Netanyahu does not have 61 loyal votes after the elections, their partnership could collapse.