More than two million people mourn as bombardments hit the Gaza Strip, drawing sharp condemnation from Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir. The night strikes killed a 58-year-old man, Hashel Mubarak Salman Mubarak, and damaged infrastructure across the enclave, drawing criticism of what some called a weak response to rocket fire from the Gaza border towns. Since then, Ben Gvir has traded harsh rhetoric with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who appears to be reevaluating his role in the right-wing coalition amid ongoing security pressures.
“The prime minister, the defense minister, the Israeli army, and security forces are the ones who manage the sensitive and complex security situations facing Israel,” a government source remarked in a statement following Ben Gvir’s criticism. Netanyahu, amid calls for unity, disclosed that Ben Gvir had not been invited to an emergency meeting following a rocket attack from Gaza. The implication was clear: if Ben Gvir cannot accept the current leadership, a resignation from the government could be considered. The broader Knesset, Israel’s parliament, is not fully aligned with Netanyahu as he warned a month ago that he might leave the coalition if Ben Gvir’s judicial reform plans were halted.
Today’s headlines reflect a difficult balance: fewer weapons and less bloodshed in the streets is seen as a sign of progress, yet the broader political crisis persists. In a tweet from May 1, 2023, Itamar Ben Gvir remarked that strengthening the police and establishing a state guard could help reduce crime and restore governance. This message was shared publicly from a private residence in Sderot, a town repeatedly struck by rockets.
– Itamar Ben Gvir (@itamarbengvir) May 1, 2023
This narrow, escalating clash has not cooled in days. A cabinet minister warned that if a Jewish-right-wing majority is not maintained in government, dissent could push for a change in leadership. In response, Ben Gvir has, at times, softened his stance while insisting that he be included in future security discussions. The question remains whether the Prime Minister will extend invitations to essential security briefings or keep Ben Gvir at arm’s length, given the volatile security climate and factional tensions.
Less power in the coalition
Should Jewish Power press its threat and boycott the Knesset plenary, the coalition would hold a narrow majority of 58-56, complicating governance and policy passage. While the situation is tense, Netanyahu appears cautious not to surrender full control to Ben Gvir. In late March, when Ben Gvir threatened to exit if Netanyahu moved to halt judicial reforms, the Prime Minister offered a compromiselike commitment involving the formation of a national guard in exchange for staying. Since that moment, Ben Gvir’s leverage within the coalition has waned, and Netanyahu has signaled he could remove him if policy directions diverge too sharply.
Analysts note that Ben Gvir’s political standing has weakened. A commentator in The Jerusalem Post suggested that the minister’s threat to resign had not yielded the expected political capital. The same analysis argues that the security portfolio no longer acts as a guaranteed path to leadership on the right; instead, it is Netanyahu who must persuade Israelis that a different approach offers a better alternative. The rising crime rates and the forcefulness of Ben Gvir’s rhetoric seem to have deterred some voters from supporting far-right leadership. Surveys from earlier in the year indicated that a sizable portion of Israelis believed Ben Gvir should be removed from his role, reflecting broader concerns about governance and security policy in a fragile regional context.