MK Zvika Fogel announced Sunday that he will not run with Otzma Yehudit in the upcoming October elections, shortly after the party’s announcement of the list.
Fogel, who was previously fourth on the party’s list was named outside the top six places.
“Regrettably, the path to continuing my activities in the Knesset or in the future government is not possible as I had planned,” Fogel said on X/Twitter. “And therefore, I will not run for the 26th Knesset on behalf of the Otzma Yehudit party.”
היה לי הכבוד לייצג את עם ישראל בכנסת וכיו״ר הוועדה לבטחון לאומי והיתה לי הזכות להיות חלק ממפלגת עוצמה יהודית.
בשנים האחרונות נתתי את כל כולי למען עם ישראל ומדינת ישראל, ובמיוחד כדי להבטיח שידה של מדינת ישראל תהיה על העליונה לאחר האסון הנורא שעברנו.
לצערי, הדרך לבצע את את המשך…
— צביקה פוגל (@tzvikafoghel) September 6, 2026
Otzma Yehudit chairman MK Itamar Ben-Gvir said that “Zvika dedicated his life to the security of the state and acted over the years with a deep sense of mission, courage and faith in the path.”
“I thank him from the bottom of my heart for the shared path, for the friendship, for the dedication, for the loyalty, and for his great contribution to Otzma Yehudit and the people of Israel,” he added.
Ben-Gvir announces fifth, sixth place on his list
Ben-Gvir also announced Sunday that MK Limor Son Har-Melech and MK Yitzhak Kreuzer will be placed in the fifth and sixth positions on the Otzma Yehudit list for the upcoming elections.
This would be the same positions both MKs held in the previous elections, when Otzma Yehudit won six mandates.
According to the latest Maariv poll, Otzma Yehudit will secure six mandates in the upcoming election, meaning both Son Har-Melech and Kreuzer have relatively safe spots.
