Ben Gvir Demands Defense, Justice Portfolios in Future Netanyahu Government

Otzma Yehudit party leader and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is escalating his demands ahead of the upcoming elections, signaling to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu his requirements for the next government's formation. Ben-Gvir is seeking the Defense Ministry for himself and wants MK Tali Gottlieb, his party's second-ranked candidate, to be appointed Minister of Justice.

In a statement, Ben-Gvir declared, "Ben-Gvir for Defense. Gottlieb for Justice," emphasizing that Otzma Yehudit will insist on these key ministerial positions in the next coalition. This demand follows Ben-Gvir's earlier assertion that he envisioned Gottlieb in a senior justice role. These requests highlight Ben-Gvir's ambition to wield significant influence over the next government's security and judicial policies.

Ben-Gvir's proposed security agenda includes encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza and the West Bank, disarming the Palestinian Authority, and arresting senior figures he claims support terrorism. He also advocates for changes in open-fire regulations, increased soldier support, higher soldier salaries, and free land allocation for combat soldiers. Furthermore, he suggests revising the IDF's ethical code, currently associated with Professor Asa Kasher, and opening elite units, including Unit 8200, to the general public.

Concurrently, Ben-Gvir's plan for the Justice Ministry involves the immediate dismissal of the current Attorney General, altering the Supreme Court justice appointment process to include a hearing in the Constitution Committee and a two-thirds majority approval, reinstating the standing test, and defining non-justiciable matters.

Gottlieb herself has proposed canceling the judicial candidate screening process, imposing harsher legal measures on crime organizations and terrorists, and modifying procedures for investigating offenses like incitement and disobedience. This move aligns with Ben-Gvir's strategy since Gottlieb joined Otzma Yehudit, where she was placed second on the party list after Yitzhak Wasserlauf relinquished his spot for her. Ben-Gvir is now moving beyond strengthening his party's electoral prospects to explicitly outlining his desired power distribution within the future government.