Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned yesterday in protest against the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Ben-Gvir, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which holds six seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, has announced that his party will be breaking away from the coalition government.
The resignation follows Ben-Gvir’s strong opposition to the ceasefire, a stance that had already led him to threaten to leave the government.
Despite Otzma Yehudit’s exit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government will retain a slim majority in the Knesset, holding 62 seats.
However, Netanyahu’s position could be jeopardized if Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also opposed the ceasefire, decides to resign. Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party holds seven seats in the Knesset.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has expressed his willingness to offer protective support to Netanyahu in the Knesset, ensuring the Prime Minister’s continued ability to govern despite internal challenges.
