Avi Dichter leading candidate to replace Ben-Gvir as Police Minister
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Ben-Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and "Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience" Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf submitted their resignation over the completion of a ceasefire with Hamas.
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In this Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005 file photo, فhe former head of "Israel's" Shin Bet internal security service, Avi Dichter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv (AP Photo, File)
Avi Dichter, the current Israeli Agriculture Minister from the Likud party, is the frontrunner to replace Itamar Ben-Gvir as Police Minister in the government, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
Just hours after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza took effect, the far-right Otzma Yehudit party officially exited "Israel’s" coalition government, following through on its threat to withdraw if a ceasefire deal with Hamas was enacted.
Ben-Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and "Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience" Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf all submitted their resignation letters to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party issued a statement confirming that effective immediately, Otzma Yehudit was no longer part of the coalition.
In his resignation letter to Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir acknowledged the "significant achievements" during the prime minister's leadership but criticized the ceasefire deal as a "surrender-to-terror" agreement that "crosses all ideological red lines."
He argued that the ceasefire was "a complete victory for terrorism" and stated that the party would no longer support the government on ideological matters.
"We will not return to the government table without a complete victory against Hamas and the full realization of the war's goals," Ben-Gvir emphasized.
Netanyahu is expected to appoint a member of his Likud party to the position, likely leaving the door open for Ben-Gvir’s potential return to the government in the future, The Times of Israel highlighted.
However, the news website noted that Netanyahu's options are constrained by legal challenges, as several potential candidates, including ministers Eli Cohen, Miri Regev, and May Golan, are currently under police investigation, which may disqualify them from the role.
The other ministerial posts held by Otzma Yehudit — the Heritage Ministry and the "Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience" Ministry — are also anticipated to be reassigned to Likud members.
Deal is 'reckless'
Ben-Gvir announced Thursday that his Otzma Yehudit party would leave the coalition government if the recently mediated ceasefire agreement with Hamas is approved.
At the time, Ben-Gvir sharply criticized the deal, describing it as "reckless" and claiming it includes concessions that undermine the Israeli occupation achievements.
"The agreement involves releasing hundreds of murderers, the return of hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents to the northern sector, including thousands of terrorists, withdrawal from the Philadelphi Route, and a ceasefire," he stated.
According to Ben-Gvir, the deal "ends all the accomplishments we have achieved for the state and does not ensure the release of all the hostages."
Emphasizing his party's position, Ben-Gvir declared that Otzma Yehudit, under his leadership, "does not topple Netanyahu nor cooperate with the left and its goals against the government.
"However, we cannot remain part of a government that approves a deal providing a significant reward to Hamas and risks another catastrophe like October 7."
Read more: Continuation of Gaza war serves Ben-Gvir, Smotrich's schemes: Haaretz
