Ben Gvir's Jewish Power party rejoins government after resumption of Gaza fighting

After the renewal of military action in Gaza early this morning, Jewish Power leader and MK Itamar Ben Gvir was widely expected to announce his party’s return to the coalition. 

Early Tuesday afternoon, an announcement was made by both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, and Itamar Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party stating that the faction would be returning to the coalition government. 

“Likud and Jewish Power have agreed that the Jewish Power faction will return to the Israeli government today, and Jewish Power ministers will return to the government,” the announcement said. 

Ben Gvir, the former National Security Minister left the coalition with his party in January, over the signing of the hostage-ceasefire agreement, saying that only military pressure could return the hostages and bring about the collapse of Hamas.

Ben Gvir also claimed he had previously prevented hostage release deals. 

Following the announcement, Ben Gvir posted a message to 𝕏, saying, “Together in strength [Otzma in Hebrew], for the people of Israel!”

יחד בעוצמה, למען עם ישראל! pic.twitter.com/78KlHkm31L

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) March 18, 2025

Israeli political commentator Amit Segal called Jewish Power’s two-month stint outside the government “puzzling” saying it did not accomplish anything. 

"A puzzling departure that hasn't changed anything ends in a reversal," Segal wrote, wondering, "and what will happen if next week there is a pause in exchange for a deal? Will they leave again?” 

However, a letter sent by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to Prime Minister Netanyahu after Ben Gvir’s party departed the government in January raised some issues for returning Jewish Power to the government, particularly regarding the reappointment of party members to government offices. 

In that letter, Baharav-Miara wrote, “if you consider appointing Ben-Gvir as a member of the government in the future, it will be necessary to examine the current relevant factual basis, including the one that was recently presented to you. This future examination will be carried out, taking into account that this will be a new appointment.” 

A spokesperson for Jewish Power said of the return to fighting in Gaza, it “is the right step, the moral and most justified one, in order to destroy the Hamas terror organization and bring back our hostages. We cannot accept the existence of Hamas and must demolish it.”

At the same time, the return of Jewish Power to the government comes one day before the government planned to begin voting on the state budget for 2025.

While Netanyahu's coalition without Ben Gvir stood at a one-vote majority, some political analysts believe that Likud worked to bring Ben Gvir's party back into the government in order to guarantee the passing of the budget.

Without the participation of Jewish Power, the vote could have been deadlocked or even seen defectors voting against it. If the budget fails, it would lead to an automatic dissolution of the Knesset, according to Israeli law, and the calling of new elections. 

Haaretz reporter Amir Tibon, a resident of Kibbutz Nachal Oz, which saw some of the worst of the massacre of Oct. 7, 2023, slammed the decision on 𝕏, writing, “Netanyahu had a choice: Return Omri Miran and David Cunio to their children, or return Ben-Gvir to the government to pass a budget. And he chose Ben-Gvir.”