Knesset parties agree: Extremist Ben Gvir Occupation Police Minister

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The Likud party, led by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, announced on Friday that it signed its first coalition agreement with the Jewish Power party, headed by extremist Itamar Ben Gvir.

This agreement grants Knesset Member Itamar Ben Gvir the Occupation's Police Minister and a seat in the occupation's security cabinet.

According to Israeli media, "The agreement guarantees that the Jewish Power party will also obtain the Ministry of 'Development' of Al-Naqab and Al-Khalil. According to the Likud statement, it was agreed to expand the powers and fields of the ministry's work, and it will be called the Ministry of Development of Al-Naqab and Al-Khalil and 'National' Strength."

The Likud said in a statement that "Jewish Power Party will get the Ministry of Heritage, and the party will also get the chairmanship of the Internal Security Committee [in the Knesset], the chairmanship of the 'Israel' Citizens Fund Committee alternately, and the position of deputy minister in the Ministry of Economy."

In this regard, KM Ben Gvir said, "Tonight we took an important step to establish a 100% right-wing government. I am happy that the agreement on the ministries that Jewish Power will receive will enable us to implement our electoral promises."

Moreover, Ben Gvir called on "right-wing blocs to establish a complete right-wing government as soon as possible."

Former Chief of Staff and MK Gadi Eisenkot touched on the decision to appoint Ben Gvir as Occupation Police Minister, saying on his Facebook page: “We were informed this morning that MK Ben Gvir will be appointed 'Minister of National Security'. It is a sad joke at the expense of the citizens of 'Israel'."

Eisenkot further stressed that the occupation's so-called "national security ministry's" position is a "field much broader than internal security. It is a strategic position that guarantees the 'national' ability to deal effectively with threats to the existence or 'national' interests of the 'state', and is not a term to be used randomly in order to please politicians."

The victory of the right by a clear majority in the elections that took place on the first of November, which ended a political deadlock that lasted nearly 4 years, raised the ceiling of expectations within the Likud party to quickly conclude alliances with religious-nationalist parties that share the party's ideas and orientations.

However, divisions have emerged between the Likud and the Religious Zionism party, as Religious Zionism MKs are calling for the leader of the party, Bezalel Smotrich, to assume the position of Occupation Security Minister so that the party can influence policy related to the occupied West Bank, more than half of which is completely under Israeli military control. At the same time, the Likud Party is trying to keep this high office for themselves.

The position of finance minister will also be problematic for Netanyahu, who had previously stated that the Likud would retain the three major portfolios, which are security, finance and foreign affairs.

Regardless of the positions that will be taken by the Religious Zionism party, the next government will, as it seems, be the most right-wing in the history of the occupation, which will put Netanyahu under pressure to maintain the diplomatic balance between his coalition and Western allies.

Read more: Schism in 'Israel' grows over who will occupy Palestine 'better'