Otzma Yehudit Party leader MK Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed satisfaction with a Panels Politics Research poll published in The Jerusalem Post on Friday which found his party would win six seats if an election were held today.
Ben-Gvir ran on the Religious Zionist Party slate in last year’s election. The poll found that if Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionist Party ran separately, the former would win six seats and the latter five.
"The people of Israel want security"
“The people of Israel express support for those who fight for them and not those who sit with terror supporters in a coalition and are indifferent to the feelings of the nation,” Ben-Gvir said. “All the public wants is to receive security in our state, to control our sovereignty and not to surrender and display weakness to our enemies.”
"We will continue along the path of truth and work on behalf of unity amongst us and with God's help, we will win."
Otzma Yehudit MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, May 27
The poll frightened members of MK Mansour Abbas’ Ra’am Party (United Arab List).
“There is apparently a connection between displays of fascism and chances of one person or a party to receive more support and mandates!!!,” Ra’am MK Waleed Taha tweeted. “There is a crisis of values.”
מתברר שקיים קשר בין גילויי פשיזם, לבין הסיכויים של יחיד, ואו מפלגה, לזכות ביותר תמיכה ומנדטים!!! ערכים במשבר..
— وليد طه - ווליד טאהא - Waleed Taha (@Waleedt68) May 27, 2022
Meretz MK offers a solution to Left's woes
The Post poll revealed that an overwhelming majority of Israelis do not want to see an Arab party in a future government that would be formed after the next election.
The poll also found that Meretz would not cross the electoral threshold and that opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu would be unable to form an alternative government.
Meretz MK Mossi Raz said he was not surprised that Netanyahu cannot form a government, but the voting pattern on the Left required action.
He blamed the loss of support for Meretz on the short-lived rebellion of MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi last week.
"The poll proves that we must maintain this government, because another election will lead to strengthening the extreme Right and yet another election."
Meretz MK Mossi Raz, May 27
According to the Meretz MK, the poll shows the need for a unified list of Arab and Jewish MKs from Labor, Meretz, Ra'am and the Joint List to be formed.
“Without making a reference to a specific week that resulted in justified anger that is temporary, the poll strengthens my view that a list should be formed that would include Jews and Arabs from Labor, Meretz, Ra’am and the Joint List,” Raz said.