Despite National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s firm rejection of negotiations for a joint Knesset run with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, Likud officials are continuing efforts to bring the two parties together ahead of the elections.

A Likud source involved in the effort told Walla that Ben Gvir’s announcement that a joint run is off the table is not being viewed as the final word. “He can say that he cut it off; we are still making efforts. In the end, we will get to him,” the source said.

Likud officials say the push is not intended to weaken Ben Gvir, but rather to prevent right-wing votes from being lost if Religious Zionism fails to cross the electoral threshold. The source compared the concern to Meretz falling below the threshold in the previous election, which cost the left-wing bloc crucial votes.

The entrance of former IDF Maj. Gen. Ofer Winter into politics has added to Likud’s concerns over a further split in the right-wing vote. According to the report, Likud believes it has significantly more ability to influence Ben Gvir than Winter. “There is no control over Winter. There is more control over Ben Gvir than there is over Winter,” the Likud source said.

Likud officials believe pressure on Ben Gvir could intensify as additional polls are released showing the potential electoral cost of running separately. “When he starts seeing that it is hurting him in mandates, he will start moving,” the source predicted.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)