In a dramatic turn of political fortune, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s embattled coalition regained a crucial ally on March 18 when far‑right Otzma Yehudit announced its return to government—just hours after Israel resumed airstrikes in Gaza.
The move restores Prime Minister Netanyahu’s parliamentary majority to 68 seats and marks the reappointment of National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and Negev, Galilee & National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf to their former cabinet posts.
Exit and Return: A Two‑Month Standoff
Otzma Yehudit quit Netanyahu’s coalition on January 19, withdrawing its ministers in protest of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that the party condemned as a “surrender‑to‑terror deal.”
At the time, party leader Itamar Ben‑Gvir vowed never to rejoin “without a complete victory against Hamas,” underscoring the group’s uncompromising stance.
That pledge was tested on March 18 when Israel’s air force launched heavy strikes across Gaza—ending the six‑week truce brokered in January. Within hours, Netanyahu and Ben‑Gvir issued a joint statement declaring that Otzma Yehudit would reenter the coalition “together in strength, for the sake of the people of Israel”
Political Stakes: Budget, Coalition Stability and Legal Hurdles
Ben‑Gvir’s return comes at a critical juncture: the government must pass its 2025 budget by month’s end or face collapse. With his party’s six Knesset seats back in the fold, Netanyahu’s slender majority grows more secure—removing leverage previously wielded by ultra‑Orthodox factions demanding exemptions from military service.
Yet the reappointment faces legal uncertainty. Attorney General Gali Baharav‑Miara had warned Netanyahu that Ben‑Gvir could not lawfully resume his role as National Security Minister because of documented breaches of High Court orders limiting his interference in police operations.
Nonetheless, the cabinet unanimously voted late Tuesday to reappoint Ben‑Gvir—defying the AG and signaling deepening tensions between Israel’s executive and judicial branches.
Ben‑Gvir’s Agenda: From Ceasefire Critic to Security Chief
Itamar Ben‑Gvir, a former lawyer convicted of incitement and extremist activism, initially joined the cabinet in December 2022 as part of Netanyahu’s most right‑wing government ever. During his brief tenure, he pushed to loosen gun regulations, intervene directly in police conduct, and advance settler rights in contested areas. His departure in January was triggered by the government’s willingness to negotiate a hostage exchange and partial ceasefire.
Returning to power amid renewed hostilities, Ben‑Gvir framed his comeback as morally imperative. “Israel must return to fighting in Gaza,” he said, arguing that destroying Hamas is the only path to freeing remaining hostages and ensuring national security.
Critics, however, view his rhetoric as inflammatory and warn that his influence risks further polarization within Israel and inflaming regional tensions.
Coalition Dynamics and Opposition Pushback
Within Netanyahu’s coalition, Otzma Yehudit’s comeback has elicited mixed reactions. Likud ministers celebrated the restoration of stability, with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi proclaiming that the “right‑wing government is united and stronger than ever.” Conversely, opposition voices condemned the move as a sign of Netanyahu’s weakness. Merav Michaeli of the center‑left Democrats tweeted sharply: “Ben‑Gvir is returning; the hostages aren’t.”
Far‑left and centrist lawmakers criticized the government for prioritizing political expediency over hostage safety and ceasefire efforts. Demonstrations by families of hostages outside the Knesset underscored public anger that renewed fighting could endanger captives still held in Gaza.
Legal Battles Ahead
Ben‑Gvir’s reappointment is certain to spark fresh High Court petitions. Past rulings have repeatedly admonished him for using ministerial authority to direct police operations—a practice the court deemed unconstitutional. Attorney General Baharav‑Miara’s formal objection signals a likely showdown in Israel’s Supreme Court, where petitions could challenge the legality of his return to the security portfolio.
For Netanyahu, overriding the AG and backing Ben‑Gvir is a calculated gamble: consolidating a fragile coalition at the expense of legal norms risks deeper institutional conflict. Yet in the volatile context of resumed war, he appears willing to accept that risk to maintain a governing majority.
Broader Implications
Otzma Yehudit’s reentry is emblematic of a broader rightward shift in Israeli politics, accelerated by the October 7 terror attacks and subsequent war. With the ceasefire collapse and hostilities reignited, Netanyahu’s alliance with extremist elements consolidates a unified war front—but deepens domestic divisions over the future of Israeli democracy and the prospects for peace.
As airstrikes pound Gaza and political tempers flare in Jerusalem, Israel faces a stark choice: continue a military campaign that restores coalition unity but jeopardizes judicial independence and international standing, or seek alternative strategies that balance security imperatives with rule‑of‑law constraints.
Looking Ahead
Netanyahu’s government is set to ratify Otzma Yehudit’s return in a Knesset vote on March 19. As cabinet portfolios are handed back to Ben‑Gvir, Eliyahu, and Wasserlauf, Israel’s political trajectory is poised at a crossroads—defined by escalating war, emboldened far‑right politics, and intensifying legal conflict. The coming weeks will reveal whether this reinvigorated coalition can withstand both battlefield pressures and constitutional challenges, or whether its very survival will sow the seeds of further instability.