Ben-Gvir sets conditions for ending his coalition boycott
The Jewish Power party announced that it would stop participating in Knesset votes, citing the government's "weak" response to terrorism
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made several demands of the ruling coalition, in order to renew cooperation between his far-right party, Jewish power, and the Likud. According to Kan public broadcaster, he is demanding a major military operation to curb terrorism in the West Bank.
In addition, he demanded he be allowed to actively participate in discussions on security issues, be given at least a piecemeal approval over the government's judicial reform plan, and stricter conditions on the incarceration of Palestinian prisoners.
The Jewish Power party recently announced that it would stop participating in Knesset votes, citing the government's "weak" response to rocket fire from Gaza and other grievances. The Likud responded by telling Ben-Gvir that he could leave the government if he did not like the way Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was running it.
The party says that Ben-Gvir could leave the government if the policies he wants to implement continue to be ignored. Netanyahu has sent several emissaries in recent days to try to resolve their differences, but no agreement has been reached so far.
The National Security Minister, whose ministry is in charge of the police, is facing increased pressure due to an uptick of terrorist attacks and a sharp rise in homicides in the Arab-Israeli community. Ben-Gvir's primary grievance is Netanyahu’s unwillingness to include him in sensitive security meetings.
On Sunday, Ben-Gvir said he was boycotting the weekly cabinet meeting as Israel returned the bodies of several Palestinians killed in attempted attacks and firefights with troops. According to Kan, Netanyahu may bring the death penalty bill for Palestinian terrorists to a debate in the security cabinet, in order to appease the far-right minister.
The EU has also threatened to boycott a Europe Day event where Ben-Gvir is due to participate as the Israeli government's official representative. The latest report is that the Europeans will request to postpone the celebration.