{
  "id": 1236749,
  "title": "Eight Likud ministers, MKs, have asked to join Otzma Yehudit party, Itamar Ben-Gvir claims",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/eight-likud-ministers-mks-have-asked-to-join-otzma-yehudit-party",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T09:04:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-905629"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Eight Likud ministers and members of Knesset have expressed interest in joining Otzma Yehudit, according to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. As reported by 103FM, these individuals view Otzma's polling success and wish to align themselves with the party. However, Ben-Gvir had a more tempered reaction to the news of MK Almog Cohen's potential switch. He stated that he did Cohen a favor by not expelling him from his current position, praising him as a \"good MK\" and expressing his wish for his success. Ben-Gvir insisted on placing Cohen in a realistic position on the list during negotiations to unite his slate with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, but the negotiations nearly deteriorated over this issue. Following the negotiations, Ben-Gvir was recorded expressing support for and recommending Likud primary candidates in a series of videos. Among the recommended candidates is Cohen, among others. It is significant that Ben-Gvir, who leads Otzma Yehudit, is now identifying individuals within Likud whom he believes should be strengthened as the primaries approach.",
  "summary": "\"They see Otzma's polls, they saw how strong we are, and they wanted to join,\" Ben-Gvir elaborated.",
  "key_points": [
    "Eight Likud ministers and MKs seek to join Otzma Yehudit, according to Itamar Ben-Gvir.",
    "Ben-Gvir praised MK Almog Cohen, hoping for his success, despite potential expulsion.",
    "Ben-Gvir endorsed Likud primary candidates, including Cohen, in recent videos."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Ben-Gvir: 8 top Likud figures asked to join Otzma Yehudit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ben-gvir-8-top-likud-figures-asked-to-join-otzma-yehudit",
        "published": "2026-08-16T08:45:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}