Far-Right Party Leader Demands Defense Ministry, Judicial Overhaul

Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, has outlined his party's key demands for the formation of the next Israeli government. Ben Gvir seeks the Defense Ministry portfolio for himself and wants fellow lawmaker Tali Gottlieb to head the Justice Ministry. Otzma Yehudit's security platform includes encouraging the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, dismantling the policy of "containment," disarming the Palestinian Authority, and arresting its officials who support terrorism. Ben Gvir also aims to revise open-fire regulations to provide greater support for soldiers, increase their salaries, and offer free land to combat soldiers. He further proposes altering the IDF's code of ethics and opening elite units, including military intelligence Unit 8200, to the general public.

On the judicial front, Gottlieb plans to make the dismissal of the Attorney General the first act of a new government. She also intends to reform the Supreme Court justice appointment process, requiring candidates to be interviewed by the Knesset Constitution Committee and gain approval from two-thirds of its members. The party also seeks to eliminate the current candidate selection mechanism for judges, which Gottlieb views as a way to exclude certain applicants. Otzma Yehudit further advocates for harsher penalties against criminal organizations and terrorists to enhance deterrence. Finally, the party wants to remove the requirement for prior approval from the State Attorney before initiating criminal investigations for offenses like incitement, sedition, or calls for disobedience.