Likud Confirms Ben-Gvir for Senior Role as 7-10 Seats Could Sway Israel's 120-Seat Election
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 25
Likud Confirms Ben-Gvir for Senior Role as 7-10 Seats Could Sway Israel's 120-Seat Election
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 25
Summary
Likud said on its official WhatsApp channel that Itamar Ben-Gvir is a senior minister in its government and would remain so after Tuesday’s election if the left-Arab bloc does not win.
The statement followed public signs of friction after a Hebrew media report quoted Benjamin Netanyahu as saying Ben-Gvir would not return as national security minister, prompting Ben-Gvir to reply that voters would decide.
Polls put Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit at 7 to 10 seats in the 120-member Knesset, enough to make Netanyahu’s path to power dependent on his support and strengthen his claim to top portfolios.
The endorsement comes despite sharp criticism of Ben-Gvir’s record and rhetoric, with former ambassador Danny Ayalon saying his tenure hurt Israel’s security and diplomatic standing.
Broader surveys still show Netanyahu’s bloc slightly behind Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition, with neither camp clearly on track to reach the 61 seats needed to govern.