Party Profile: Otzma Yehudit (Itamar Ben-Gvir)

Who they are

Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) is the far-right, religious-nationalist party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister. It grew out of the Kahanist movement and entered the mainstream through a merger with Religious Zionism in 2022. This time it runs alone.

Ben-Gvir was convicted in 2007 of incitement to racism and support for a terror organization. Several countries have imposed sanctions on him. He remains in the cabinet.

On 24 Sept the Central Elections Committee voted 19-10, with one abstention, against barring the party. The petitioners were the Democrats, the Zulat Institute and former senior officials. The same day it rejected Otzma's request to bar the Democrats, 2-14, after coalition members boycotted. The Democrats then petitioned the High Court, which dismissed the case on 4 Oct on procedural grounds, without ruling on the merits. The party is on the ballot.

The list: who is likely to get in

At 7 to 9 seats the first seven to nine names are in. Slot 9 is the first reserved slot for a Haredi candidate.

Itamar Ben-Gvir (1). Party leader and National Security Minister. A lawyer and long-time activist from the Kahanist camp. Known for his focus on Temple Mount access, a tougher line on security prisoners and the death penalty for terrorists.

Tally Gotliv (2). A former Likud MK known for her sharp style. Her place at number two is a symbol of the party's pull on the hard right of Likud.

Yitzhak Wasserlauf (3). A sitting minister and a party veteran. At 33, he is among the youngest ministers in recent years.

Amichai Eliyahu (4). The Heritage Minister, 47, and the son of a former Sephardi chief rabbi. Known for provocative statements on Gaza.

Limor Son Har-Melech (5). A sitting MK, 46, and a settler leader from Samaria.

Yitzhak Kroizer (6). A sitting MK, 40.

Hanamel Dorfman (7). At 31, the youngest in the top group.

Yossi Goldberger (9). At 39, he holds the first reserved Haredi slot. The slot is part of the party's outreach to Haredi voters.

Yishai Fleisher (12). A well-known English-language spokesperson for the Jewish community in Hebron, and a media personality. He is unlikely to enter the Knesset unless the party exceeds its polls.

Others on the list. Tzachi Eliyahu (8), Itiel Ne'eman (10) and David Babli (11) have thinner public profiles.

Note: check the final list against the Central Elections Committee publication.

Platform and coalition plans

Otzma backs Netanyahu and wants a bigger role inside a new right-wing government. Its demands will likely include the security portfolio and a stronger hand in judicial appointments. A bigger Otzma means more leverage for the hard right inside a Netanyahu government. A smaller one means Likud has more room to bargain with others.

Sources: Central Elections Committee decision of 24 Sept; High Court ruling of 4 Oct; party list filings; Israeli media poll tracking, 24 Sept to 7 Oct.