Itamar Ben Gvir Demands Defense Ministry in Coalition Bid

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced coalition demands for Israel's next government, seeking the position of Defense Minister for himself and the Justice Ministry for Member of Knesset Tally Gotliv. Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Ben Gvir stated that the state's security doctrine must be transformed to achieve a "decisive victory on every front."

His proposed security agenda includes disarming the Palestinian Authority, arresting its senior officials who support terrorism, and encouraging the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Ben Gvir also seeks to end the current containment doctrine, alter the Israel Defense Forces' rules of engagement and ethical code, and open elite military units like Unit 8200 to the general population. Additional proposals include increasing soldiers' salaries and providing combat soldiers with free land.

Tally Gotliv's demands for the Justice Ministry center on judicial reform, specifically requiring the dismissal of the Attorney-General as a prerequisite for government formation. Her plan includes implementing harsher punishments for terrorists and requiring a two-thirds majority in the Knesset's Constitution Committee for Supreme Court appointments.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot criticized the move, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of losing his judgment by including Ben Gvir in the coalition. The demands come ahead of the October 27 elections, with Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party currently polling at seven percent.