Justice Minister and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir said in an interview with 103FM that eight senior Likud figures, including four sitting ministers and four Knesset members, approached him about joining his party ahead of the upcoming primaries.
"Four sitting ministers and four sitting Knesset members contacted me to reserve us a slot," Ben-Gvir said. "They see the polls of Otzma, they saw how strong we are, and they wanted to join. In the end,m though, Likud is Likud, Otzma is Otzma. I wish them success in Likud."
Addressing MK Almog Cohen, who recently moved in the opposite direction and joined Likud, Ben-Gvir said, "I was kind to him and didn't split from him. Almog is a good Knesset member, and I wish him success." Ben-Gvir also discussed negotiations over a joint slate with Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich, saying he had insisted that Cohen receive a realistic position on the list.
The minister also addressed Defense Minister Israel Katz's decision to transfer policing authority over Israeli residents in Samaria from the IDF to the Israel Police's Judea and Samaria District. Ben-Gvir said he was surprised by the decision.
"I highly respect Minister Katz, but you need to understand that in Areas A and B the police have no authority. I appreciate that, as Defense Minister, he does good things, but he didn't speak to me about the decision. If they transfer authority to me, they need to give me the ability to manage it. Today, in order for the police to remove stolen vehicles from there, they need to be coordinated with the army."
Ben-Gvir was also asked about the controversy surrounding a post in which he shared footage from the detention of a Bedouin bride and groom. He denied deleting the post, saying, "Twitter probably deleted it for us. We're negotiatiing with them. For too many years, wedding processions have been making life unbearable for residents of the Negev and frightening them. You know what it means to drive on Route 25 near Dimona? They carry out vandalism there. I'm proud that, in my watch, the law is finally being enforced. Even if it's a bride and groom, they will find themselves at a police station if they break the law."
Ben-Gvir also praised the police following the discovery of Mali and Liel Yahalomi in Argentina over the weekend. "The police worked very hard. I spoke with the commissioner on Thursday; he told me it's not terrorism and not criminal activity. We're on it, and we'll bring the results of this investigation," he said. "You can't take risks. There is always a chance that it could be a different type of incident after all. I'm proud of Police Commissioner Daniel Levi, the officers, and the units they activated. Any other country wouldn't go looking for its residents abroad."