Ben Gvir Says He Will Run Separately From Smotrich to Secure a Right-Wing Government

Itamar Ben Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit and Israel’s national security minister, said at the opening of his faction meeting that he will not join forces with Bezalel Smotrich in the next election. “To have a right-wing government, we must run separately,” he said.

Ben Gvir also blamed the government’s legal adviser for the police handling of Haredi protests against military conscription. “The attorney general is to blame, she is inciting and heating things up,” he said, adding that he wanted to fire her but that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Haredi lawmakers opposed it.

In a lengthy statement, Ben Gvir rejected any ceasefire or agreement between the United States and Iran, saying Israel must not accept it and must act only according to its own security needs. He said Israel is not “a contractor for any power,” argued that Israeli citizens’ and IDF soldiers’ safety comes first, and warned that the era of endless rounds of fighting is over, “not in Gaza, not in Lebanon and not against Iran.”

He demanded that Netanyahu allow the IDF to continue “important” operations, including demolishing homes, killing Hezbollah militants and moving residents away from their homes, and said Israel should not follow understandings between Donald Trump and Ali Khamenei. Ben Gvir added that any drone or missile launched at Israel must draw a “crushing” response, “up to setting the Dahieh on fire,” and that firing on Israel is equivalent to a declaration of war.

He ended by addressing Netanyahu directly, saying leadership is tested in such moments and that history will remember only those who ensured the security of the people and the state. He praised Trump’s support for Israel but insisted that Israel alone bears responsibility for its security and must preserve full freedom of military action.