Far-Right Leader Ben-Gvir Demands Security, Justice Portfolios in Netanyahu Government

Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, has laid out initial conditions for joining a future Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Ben-Gvir stated on Tuesday that he would demand the Security portfolio for himself and the Justice Ministry for Knesset member Tali Gottlieb. The party also seeks to implement a broad political, security, and judicial agenda during coalition negotiations.

According to a statement from Ben-Gvir's party, the proposed security program includes encouraging what he termed the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, disarming the Palestinian Authority, and arresting its officials on charges of supporting terrorism. The plan also calls for revising open-fire regulations to provide broader cover for Israeli soldiers, increasing their salaries, and allocating free land to combat soldiers.

On the judicial front, Gottlieb's proposed program includes the immediate dismissal of the government's legal advisor upon the formation of the next government. She also suggests altering the appointment process for Supreme Court justices, requiring candidates to undergo hearings before a Knesset Constitution Committee and securing a two-thirds majority for their appointment. Gottlieb's proposals further aim to limit the Supreme Court's scope of intervention by reinstating the broader standing requirement for court appearances and defining cases that are not subject to judicial review.

These demands come amid a growing electoral contest between Ben-Gvir and the Likud party for right-wing votes. Ben-Gvir is attempting to persuade right-wing voters that strengthening his party is essential to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government with parties outside the right-wing bloc. He has accused Netanyahu of seeking to replace him with Gadi Eisenkot in the next government and demanded a public pledge not to include Eisenkot or Yair Golan in his coalition.

Recent polls indicate that Netanyahu's bloc currently falls short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, with projections ranging from 52 to 54 seats. Ben-Gvir is preemptively outlining not only his desired ministerial positions but also a detailed agenda for implementation, aiming to translate his potential electoral strength into clear political, security, and judicial conditions before elections and coalition talks begin.