Itamar Ben-Gvir’s anticipated return to Israel’s government restores a staunchly nationalist West Bank settler who has persistently advocated for escalating military action in Gaza, even as the Palestinian death toll surpasses 48,000.
The announcement of his comeback—after resigning in January over ceasefire disagreements—comes on the heels of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, shattering a period of relative quiet following stalled ceasefire negotiations. His re-entry into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition bolsters a government that had been left with a fragile parliamentary majority after his departure.
Ben-Gvir, 48, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, has long been a polarizing figure in Israeli politics. Burly and bespectacled, he has attacked Netanyahu and the military for what he sees as a soft stance on Gaza, vehemently opposing any peace deal that does not eradicate Hamas.
His return brings renewed tension within Netanyahu’s coalition. Alongside Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Ben-Gvir has clashed with Netanyahu, demanding the permanent reoccupation of Gaza and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements there—proposals Netanyahu has publicly dismissed.
Ben-Gvir has repeatedly courted controversy, most notably with his provocative visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque (Temple Mount) in August, a move that inflamed tensions as ceasefire negotiations were underway. His push for Jewish prayer rights at the highly sensitive religious site sparked international outrage, with Netanyahu quickly distancing himself from the action—even as some Orthodox Jewish groups also condemned it.
His hardline record precedes his political career. In 2007, he was convicted of racist incitement and supporting an extremist group classified as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. Once a disciple of Meir Kahane, who advocated stripping Arab Israelis of citizenship, Ben-Gvir has moderated his rhetoric slightly over the years—though he still calls for the expulsion of Palestinians he considers “traitors” or “terrorists.”
Ben-Gvir’s previous role as national security minister (appointed by Netanyahu in 2022) signaled a hard-right shift in Israeli governance, despite widespread criticism from Western allies, including the U.S. His resignation in January weakened the coalition but did not collapse it.
His return now strengthens Netanyahu’s grip on power but risks exacerbating tensions with Washington, where the Biden administration has repeatedly condemned Ben-Gvir’s anti-Palestinian rhetoric and support for violent settler groups attacking Palestinians in the West Bank.
As Gaza remains in turmoil and ceasefire efforts stall, Ben-Gvir’s reinstatement underscores the growing influence of Israel’s ultranationalist factions, potentially reshaping the conflict’s trajectory for years to come.