Portrait of Itamar Ben Gvir
Politician · person
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Itamar Ben Gvir on Netanyahu

Coalition ally/protégé (strong)

TL;DR

Itamar Ben Gvir is a political ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government he rejoins after temporary departures over policy disagreements.

Key Points

  • He rejoined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in March 2025 after resigning in January over the Gaza ceasefire deal.

  • Netanyahu’s office defended the minister against the Attorney General’s March 2026 call for his dismissal, stating he “will continue to serve in his position.”

  • In late 2024, Ben-Gvir reportedly approved a police officer’s promotion, but later froze it following inquiries regarding the officer's past involvement in investigations concerning Netanyahu's circle.

Summary

Itamar Ben-Gvir is a political figure whose relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defined by their alliance within the governing coalition, despite periods of public tension. The far-right minister temporarily left Netanyahu’s government in January 2025 in protest over a ceasefire deal in Gaza, but rejoined the coalition in March 2025 following renewed military action against Hamas. This departure and subsequent return highlight a pattern where Ben-Gvir leverages his faction’s critical role in maintaining Netanyahu’s slim parliamentary majority to exert pressure on policy, particularly regarding the conflict in Gaza.

Furthermore, their relationship is characterized by external pressure and internal conflict regarding the rule of law and the independence of security forces. The Attorney General urged the High Court to order Netanyahu to fire Ben-Gvir due to the minister's alleged contempt for rulings and undermining of police independence, citing concerns over Ben-Gvir’s conduct in office. Netanyahu’s office, however, has pushed back against the Attorney General’s efforts, insisting Ben-Gvir will continue to serve, which frames Netanyahu as protecting his coalition partner from judicial or legal challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Itamar Ben Gvir is fundamentally a political ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, as they lead a governing coalition together. He supports Netanyahu enough to rejoin his government after brief, policy-driven separations. However, the relationship is strained by external legal pressure and disagreements over security policy, such as the handling of the Gaza conflict.

Itamar Ben Gvir has not changed his fundamental stance of being part of Netanyahu's governing right-wing bloc. His position has demonstrated tactical flexibility rather than a policy reversal; he resigned in protest in January 2025 but returned in March 2025. This suggests a fluctuating tactical alignment within a broader necessary partnership.

The minister strongly rejected the Attorney General’s effort to involve the High Court in forcing his removal from the government. Ben Gvir asserted that the Attorney General was an “unfit” and “dismissed criminal official” attempting to stage a coup while the state was at war. He suggested the official acted as if Israel were Iran, threatening to establish “Revolutionary Guards.”