Ben-Gvir’s party to run separately from Smotrich in Israel elections — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), the party of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, will run in the election to the 26th Knesset, scheduled for October 27, 2026, on a separate list from Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party. According to the Jerusalem Post, the party has between eight and ten seats in opinion polls.
In the 2022 election, Otzma Yehudit ran jointly with the Religious Zionism party and Noam. The united list then won 14 seats in the Knesset, six of which went to Ben-Gvir’s party. This time, he rejected a new joint list, stating that the parties appeal to different electorates. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to unite, but Ben-Gvir rejected the proposal.
Security, Gaza and Palestinian statehood
The key themes of Otzma Yehudit’s campaign are strengthening security policy, combating terrorism, supporting the police and military, and opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Ben-Gvir advocates moving from a policy he calls deterrence to offensive action against terrorism.
The politician called for a tougher military response in the Gaza Strip and insists on a complete military victory over Hamas rather than arrangements that, in his view, would preserve the group. In September 2026, he presented the “Separation 710” plan, which provides for encouraging the voluntary emigration of Gaza residents and establishing a dedicated ministry. The plan envisages the departure of 250,000 people during the first year and 1.86 million over seven years.
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Ben-Gvir has also opposed ceasefire and hostage-release agreements if they leave Hamas in power. In 2025, Otzma Yehudit temporarily left the coalition over the hostage and ceasefire deal, returning after military operations in Gaza resumed.
Requirements for a future coalition
The party opposes a national unity government involving opposition forces outside Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc. Ben-Gvir also appealed to the Central Elections Committee to bar the Arab party Ra’am and its leader Mansour Abbas from the election. He called them terrorists who support Hamas and wolves in sheep’s clothing.
In domestic policy, Otzma Yehudit supported the 2023 judicial reform, changes to the procedure for selecting judges, and the expansion of political influence over judicial appointments. The party also initiated a law on the death penalty for terrorists, which, according to the publication, was finally approved by the Knesset in March 2026 by 62 votes to 48; one lawmaker abstained. As of the publication of the article, no executions had been carried out under this law.
Ben-Gvir stated that he would seek the post of defense minister in a future government and proposed appointing former Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv as justice minister. Likud representatives, according to the Jerusalem Post, objected to handing over these portfolios in future coalition negotiations.
