Otzma Yehudit Unveils Government Plan, Demands Defense and Justice Portfolios

The far-right Otzma Yehudit party, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, has revealed its comprehensive plan for the next government, specifying its demands for the Defense and Justice ministries. The party's proposals, outlined in a statement, focus heavily on security and judicial reforms.

Ben-Gvir's security plan centers on six key areas. A primary objective is encouraging what the party terms "voluntary immigration" from Gaza and the West Bank, referred to by the party as Judea and Samaria. The plan also advocates abandoning the policy of "containment" towards the Palestinians, disarming the Palestinian Authority, which it labels a "terror authority," and arresting individuals it deems "terror supporters." Furthermore, Ben-Gvir proposes altering rules of engagement, increasing support for soldiers, raising their salaries, providing free land for combat units, and revising the ethical charter attributed to Asa Kasher. The party also suggests opening elite military units, including Unit 8200, to the general public.

Simultaneously, party member Yitzhak Gottleib presented proposals for the Justice Ministry, aiming for significant changes in the judicial and legal systems. The plan calls for the immediate dismissal of the Attorney General upon the formation of the next government. It also suggests that Supreme Court justices be appointed following a hearing before the Knesset's Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, requiring a two-thirds majority for approval. The proposals aim to return the Supreme Court to its "natural purpose" by applying the "standing to sue" standard and explicitly defining cases not subject to judicial review, while also abolishing a process described as a "candidate vetting cycle."

In terms of legal reforms, Gottleib's vision includes addressing what the plan describes as "lenient legal treatment" of criminal organizations and terrorists, advocating for harsher penalties and a deterrent punishment system. The party also proposes eliminating procedures within the State Prosecutor's Office that, according to the plan, prevent criminal investigations into offenses like incitement and sedition without prior approval from the Attorney General's office. The party's announcement links these demands to Ben-Gvir's potential leadership of the Defense Ministry and Gottleib's for the Justice Ministry.