Ben Gvir Threatens To Withdraw From Gov't If Hamas War Falters

Times of Israel reporting that Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party has threatened to withdraw from PM Benjamin Netanyahu's gov't should the military offensive against Hamas in Gaza not “continue at full strength.” The Israeli gov't is coming under increasing international pressure to scale back its offensive in Gaza amid escalating Palestinian casualties, even from its staunchest supporters in the form of the US.

• In the short term, the withdrawal of Ben Gvir's faction from gov't would not necessarily result in the fall of the Netanyahu administration. The participation of former Defence Minister Benny Gantz's National Unity alliance in an emergency unity gov't ensures a majority.
• However, if Gantz were to also withdraw his support from the gov't it would strip Netanyahu of his majority and risk snap elections. Opinion polling shows a major slump in support for Netanyahu's Likud Party, with Gantz's National Unity currently the most popular political force according to polling.