The battle over the Haredim heats up: Ben Gvir pulls out the fox and the fish fable

Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir addressed the Haredi factions, warning them against joining the Change Bloc, using the fable of the fox and the fish. He attacked the left for changing its stance on the enlistment issue and warned of harm to the Haredi public.

Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir published a public statement after his party won seven seats in the 2026 elections, directly addressing the Haredi factions. Ben Gvir warned them against joining the Change Bloc, using the fable of the fox and the fish, and described the left as hypocrites who changed their position on the enlistment issue. He claimed that the left has nothing in common with the Haredim, and that they hate their faith and rabbis. Ben Gvir also thanked his supporters for the 326,634 votes the party received, expressed disappointment that it did not reach the 9 seats he had hoped for, and pledged to continue the fight against a coalition with Arab terror supporters and against the legal system. The article presents his words in full, without a response from the other side.