Ben-Gvir demands defense ministry in next ‘Israeli’ government

Otzma Yehudit chairman and ‘Israeli’ National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced on Tuesday that his far-right party will demand the Defense Ministry for himself and the Justice Ministry for his No. 2, MK Tally Gotliv, in any future coalition.

Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem where the party unveiled its platform ahead of the October 27 election, the extremist ‘Israeli’ minister Ben-Gvir positioned the demands as central to reshaping ‘Israel’s’ security and judicial systems.

“In the coming term, I intend to demand the position of defense minister,” Ben-Gvir said.

He argued that the military needs leadership from outside its traditional ranks: “The reason I am proposing my candidacy is because it is time to change the concept, to appoint someone from outside who did not come from the chief of staff’s greenhouse, who was not captive to the long-standing concepts of the past.”

He added that the time has come “to transform the State of Israel’s security doctrine with a single objective — decisive victory on every front.”

Ben-Gvir’s security platform centers on what he claims is “encouraging voluntary emigration” from Gaza and the West Bank, disarming the Palestinian Authority, and arresting senior officials who support what he termed “terrorism”.

It also calls for changing the ‘Israeli’ military’s rules of engagement to provide broader backing for soldiers, raising military salaries, granting free land to combat troops, revising what he called “Asa Kasher’s progressive ethical code,” and opening elite units such as Unit 8200 to a wider pool of applicants.

Gotliv, who recently left Likud to take the second slot on the Otzma Yehudit list, outlined an ambitious justice agenda.

Her top priority is the immediate dismissal of the attorney-general as the first step in forming the next government.

She also proposed that Supreme Court candidates undergo hearings before the Knesset Constitution Committee and win approval by a two-thirds majority, while limiting the High Court’s ability to review certain government decisions and toughening punishments for criminal organizations and what she terms “terrorists”.

Otzma Yehudit has been a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and is currently polling at around seven to eight seats.

Ben-Gvir noted that the scale of his demands would depend on the party’s election results, saying he would not pursue every item if the party underperformed.

He also named MK Yitzhak Wasserlauf as his preferred successor at the National Security Ministry.

On Wednesday, Likud officials quickly rejected the demands.

Party sources made clear that the Defense and Justice ministries are core portfolios Likud has no intention of relinquishing in future coalition talks.

Officials also expressed concern that presenting Ben-Gvir as a potential defense minister could provoke sharp reactions from neighboring countries, according to Hebrew media.

The announcement has already drawn criticism from the opposition.

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz warned that the scenario Ben-Gvir is advancing must not become reality.