Bills proposed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit will not receive the backing of the coalition, Coalition Whip MK Ofir Katz said on Sunday.“From now until further notice, legislative proposals from Otzma Yehudit members who voted in opposition to coalition discipline will not receive coalition support and will not be added to the agenda,” Katz noted.
This comes after Ben-Gvir voted against the Trapped Profits Bill last week, putting the coalition’s majority in jeopardy. The coalition was able to pass the law only after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the hospital and Likud MK Boaz Bismuth left the shiva mourning house to cast the decisive votes.
Government bills from the National Security Ministry will be reviewed on their merits, and only urgent ones related to national security will be approved, Katz said.“Such a significant and ongoing blow to the coalition’s stability and conduct will not be ignored. It is inconceivable to issue an apology while simultaneously promising to continue disrupting the coalition’s work.”
שבוע טוב.נמשיך להצביע לפי העקרונות שלנו עד לפתרון לגבי מניעת סגירת תחנות משטרה, כיתות כוננות והקיצוץ במשכורות השוטרים לוחמי הכליאה וכל כוחות הביטחון הלאומי של ישראליחד עם זאת עשיתי בשבת חשבון נפש והבנתי שטעיתי כשראיתי את ראש הממשלה ואת חברי בועז ביסמוט במליאה ולא קיזזנו אותם.…
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 4, 2025
However, he noted his mistake in not offsetting votes for Netanyahu and Bismuth.
Ben-Gvir's opposition to the bill
Ben-Gvir had previously noted his opposition to the bill due to his discontent with the 2025 budget allocation to his ministry, which he said would have a negative effect on police activity.Had the bill not passed by the end of the calendar year, a gap in the 2025 national income would have been created, and the government could have been brought down.
Eliav Breuer contributed to this article.