Tensions within Israel’s governing coalition have reached a new peak as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir engage in a public feud ahead of the general election scheduled for October. The conflict highlights growing fractures within the right-wing alliance, which has been navigating both domestic political crises and international scrutiny.
The latest public confrontation began on August 24, when Ben-Gvir, a leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, surprised the Prime Minister by announcing the discovery of the Altalena shipwreck. The vessel, which carried arms, was famously sunk by Israeli forces in June 1948. By staging the announcement independently, Ben-Gvir effectively prevented Netanyahu from claiming credit for the discovery, which holds significant symbolic weight for the Israeli right. Following the incident, Netanyahu held a separate press conference and notably refused to be photographed alongside his cabinet colleague.
On August 27, the Prime Minister escalated the dispute by posting a video on social media. In the clip, he urged Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist party to set aside their “personal issues” and form a unified front to consolidate the right-wing vote. Netanyahu warned that internal divisions could lead to an electoral defeat, drawing a comparison to the 1992 election where a fragmented right-wing bloc allowed the Labor party, led by Yitzhak Rabin, to take power. “In 1992, the right, like today, had more votes than the left, but because there were three parties, we didn’t cross the electoral threshold, we lost to the left,” Netanyahu stated.
Ben-Gvir dismissed the plea, responding, “Mr. Prime Minister, I did not understand your video.” He further accused Netanyahu of attempting to weaken far-right parties to facilitate the formation of a broader national unity government alongside Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the centrist Yashar party. Ben-Gvir’s supporters argue that his public hostility is a calculated effort to position himself as the true representative of the far-right electorate.
The relationship between the two leaders has been strained for some time. Ben-Gvir has frequently boycotted cabinet meetings to pressure the Prime Minister into adopting more aggressive policies regarding the Palestinian territories. He has publicly criticized Netanyahu for being “lax” on Gaza and has demanded that the government cease returning the bodies of Palestinians accused of attacking Israel. Conversely, Netanyahu has accused Ben-Gvir of leaking national security secrets for personal gain. In retaliation, Ben-Gvir’s party demanded that all cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, undergo lie detector tests, implying that the leaks originated from within the Prime Minister’s own office.
Beyond internal power struggles, Ben-Gvir’s conduct has occasionally sparked international controversy. His public displays, such as filming himself mocking detained pro-Palestinian activists from a Gaza aid flotilla or conducting a high-profile eviction of a UNRWA facility while in tactical gear, have drawn global condemnation. Even Netanyahu, who is currently facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, has felt compelled to rebuke Ben-Gvir for violating what he described as “Israel’s values and norms.” Reports indicate that Netanyahu has previously summoned the minister to demand a lower public profile.
The political stakes are high as the October election nears. Current polling suggests that Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to secure 48 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the Eisenkot-led bloc is expected to win 57 seats, with the remaining 15 seats going to unaligned parties. Netanyahu has reportedly admitted that his party’s standing is “worse than polls show” and has expressed concern that they are set to lose the election “unless something changes.”
Analysts view the ongoing public spat as a reflection of Ben-Gvir’s increasing influence. One commentator noted that the minister has gained enough political leverage that the Prime Minister is effectively “begging” for cooperation. As the election approaches, the struggle for the soul of the right-wing vote continues to define the internal dynamics of the Israeli government. The report also notes that which has overseen Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and launched military attacks against six countries in the last few years, the two leaders hurled shots at each other on social media in a demonstration of widening cracks within the right-wing coalition. The report also notes that headed by Netanyahu, who is fighting for his political survival amid domestic crises and international isolation, experts say the online fight reflects deep differences within the right-wing coalition. The report also notes that for example, Ben-Gvir, along with Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, gathered the media recently to inform the country about recovering the remains of the arms ship Atalena from the depths of the Mediterranean without Netanyahu’s knowledge. The report also notes that analysts say the move is an electoral gimmick meant to overplay Ben-Gvir’s standing in Israeli politics, just two months before the elections. The report also notes that “The (trick) was nothing less than brilliant, a maneuver that deserves to be studied by political science departments around the world,” said one commentator. The report also notes that in his drive to establish his credentials as the most virulent and anti-Palestinian politician in Israel, Ben-Gvir has frequently resorted to acts of extreme bigotry, attracting unkind attention worldwide.