Full Breakdown
Ben-Gvir Accuses Netanyahu of Excluding Him from Future Israeli Government
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced on a Sunday press conference in Jerusalem that the Prime Minister’s Office had secretly pledged to several European Union governments that he would not be part of the cabinet formed after the October 27, 2026 elections. He described the reports as “deeply sorrowful.” The allegation has sparked a dispute between Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party days before the election.
Background & Context
Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit, serves as Israel’s National Security Minister. He resigned from Netanyahu’s government in January 2025 over a Gaza ceasefire agreement and returned two months later after renewed military operations. Repeated confrontations have centered on cabinet composition: Netanyahu has said the Defense and National Security ministries will remain under Likud control, limiting Ben-Gvir’s ambition to take over the Defense portfolio. Otzma Yehudit has warned that Likud’s attempts to reduce its parliamentary seats to five could jeopardize the right-wing bloc’s majority.
Timeline
- October 11, 2026: Ben-Gvir addressed the “Game-Changing Generation” National Youth Conference in Jerusalem.
- Sunday before October 27, 2026: He delivered the press conference claiming the PMO had assured EU countries of his exclusion.
- October 27, 2026: Israeli Knesset elections will determine the next government’s composition.
Official Statements & Responses
- Likud’s response: The party called Ben-Gvir’s claim “false political spin,” asserting that the prime minister will include the core partners of the current coalition and invite every Zionist party based on established principles.
- Netanyahu’s rally promise: At a campaign rally in Lod, Netanyahu affirmed that Ben-Gvir would hold a high-ranking ministerial post in the next administration, saying “Ben-Gvir will be with us.”
- Ben-Gvir’s position: He said he had received “verified and confirmed information” about the alleged assurances and warned that attempts to marginalize Otzma Yehudit could keep right-wing voters at home.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Ben-Gvir claims to possess “verified and confirmed information” regarding the alleged EU assurances, but the reports have not been independently corroborated. Likud and Netanyahu deny any such commitments, describing Ben-Gvir’s statements as political spin. No external source has confirmed formal pledges to European governments, leaving the dispute unresolved ahead of the election.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I say these things with deep sorrow,” — Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister
- “Ben-Gvir will be with us,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, campaign rally
What’s Next
The October 27, 2026 election will decide whether Ben-Gvir secures a ministerial role as promised by Netanyahu or remains excluded amid the coalition dispute. Both parties are campaigning intensively, and the outcome will shape the right-wing bloc’s ability to maintain a governing majority.