Far-right ministers' influence may endure despite potential Netanyahu government change
Analysts say that even if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition falls, the hard-line policies of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir could remain entrenched in Israeli governance.
Israel's opposition is preparing to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, prompting speculation about the future of the right-wing bloc that includes Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both ministers have faced international criticism for their hard-line stance on the Gaza conflict and settlement expansion, and have been subject to travel bans and asset freezes by several Western countries in June 2025.
In the lead-up to a possible vote of no confidence, Ben-Gvir warned that Netanyahu must choose between "saving Israel" himself or supporting former chief-of-staff Yoav Gallant, while Smotrich cautioned his ultra-Orthodox allies against negotiating with Gallant, saying he would "dump them" after using their votes to remove Netanyahu.
Scholars note that the two politicians operate differently within the coalition. > "I would argue that we should not treat Ben-Gvir and Smotrich as a single bloc, since exclusion from government would affect them in opposite ways," said Arie Perliger of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Perliger added that Ben-Gvir's influence is largely populist, whereas Smotrich's power derives from his control over the state budget and settlement policy.
Both ministers have reshaped their ministries in ways that may outlast their tenure. Smotrich, as finance minister, created a separate Settlement Administration and revived the E1 settlement plan in August 2025, aiming to limit prospects for a Palestinian state. Ben-Gvir has overseen changes to the police and prison services that tighten restrictions on Palestinian detainees. "These are personnel, procedures and facts on the ground and reversing them requires sustained political will," Perliger said.
Roi Zur, an assistant professor at Essex University, warned that the religious-Zionist movement behind Smotrich and the Otzma Yehudit party led by Ben-Gvir enjoy support from about ten percent of the electorate and are likely to remain a stable political force.
Critics argue that the policies pursued by the far-right bloc have deepened discrimination against Palestinians. Former Palestinian Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman described the situation as an entrenched system of apartheid and fascism, adding that "Netanyahu and his allies haven’t just given permission to be racist; they’ve made it almost proof of patriotism – it’s expected."