Itamar Ben Gvir
Leader of Otzma Yehudit; Minister of National Security · Otzma Yehudit
2 changes of mind on record, 2019–2025
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
- Leaving the government over a Gaza deal Leaves over a Gaza dealIn the government Jan 2025Mar 2025Oct 2025
- The picture of Baruch Goldstein in his home The picture stays upTakes it down for unityNo longer where he was Feb 2019Jan 2020Sept 2022
first said said otherwise
Leaving the government over a Gaza deal
Then
Leaves over a Gaza deal
He and his Otzma Yehudit colleagues resign from the government and coalition rather than agree to the January 2025 ceasefire and hostage deal.
"אצלנו מילה זו מילה, לא נסכים לעסקה מופקרת. אני וחבריי בעוצמה יהודית הגשנו הבוקר את מכתבי ההתפטרות מהממשלה והקואליציה."
Our translation With us a word is a word, we will not agree to a reckless deal. My Jewish Power colleagues and I submitted this morning our letters of resignation from the government and the coalition.
2 months later
Later
In the government
After fighting in Gaza resumes, he announces that his party is back in the government.
"חוזרים, בכל הכוח ובכל העוצמה!"
Our translation We are returning, with all the force and all the power!
6 months later
Latest
In the government
With the hostages due to be released under a new deal, he says Jewish Power will oppose it in the government, and sets the continued existence of Hamas rule as the red line for his taking part in it.
"בשיחות שהתקיימו ביני לבין ראש הממשלה בימים האחרונים, הבהרתי כי בשום מצב לא אהיה חלק מממשלה שתאפשר את המשך קיום שלטון החמאס בעזה."
Our translation In conversations between me and the Prime Minister in recent days, I made clear that under no circumstances will I be part of a government that allows the continued existence of Hamas rule in Gaza.
Context: Otzma Yehudit's ministers left the government on 19 January 2025 and returned in March 2025, after the fighting resumed.
The picture of Baruch Goldstein in his home
Then
The picture stays up
Goldstein's picture hangs in his home, as in thousands of homes, because Goldstein was a doctor who saved Jewish lives; he asks others not to start inspecting the pictures in his living room.
"התמונה של ד"ר ברוך גולדשטיין תלויה באלפי בתים, גם שלי, היות וד"ר גולדשטיין היה רופא שהציל חיים של עשרות יהודים גם של חברים אישיים שלי."
Our translation The picture of Dr. Baruch Goldstein hangs in thousands of homes, mine too, since Dr. Goldstein was a doctor who saved the lives of dozens of Jews, including personal friends of mine.
Source בן ארי לסרוגים: "שהרב מדן לא יתערב לנו בתמונות" (סרוגים) (as reported by srugim.co.il)
11 months later
Later
Takes it down for unity
Answering Naftali Bennett, who said he would not include on his list someone who keeps the picture, he announces he is taking it down for the sake of unity and a right-wing election win.
"אני מודיע כי לטובת האחדות וניצחון הימין בבחירות אני מסיר את התמונה בסלון."
Our translation I announce that for the sake of unity and the right's victory in the elections, I am removing the picture in the living room.
Source בן גביר: אסיר את תמונת גולדשטיין למען אחדות (סרוגים, quoting his post on Twitter) (as reported by srugim.co.il)
2 years, 7 months later
Latest
No longer where he was
He says that in the past he said all Arabs should be expelled and hung Goldstein's picture at home, and that today he is no longer there, while declining to apologise.
"נכון שבעבר לפני 20 שנה אמרתי שצריך לגרש את כל הערבים, ובעבר תליתי תמונה של גולדשטיין בבית, היום אני לא נמצא שם."
Our translation It's true that in the past, 20 years ago, I said all the Arabs should be expelled, and in the past I hung a picture of Goldstein at home; today I am not there.
Source ח"כ בן גביר: "בעבר תליתי תמונה של גולדשטיין בבית, היום אני לא נמצא שם" (מעריב, ראיון ב-103FM) (as reported by maariv.co.il)
Context: Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Muslim worshippers at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in February 1994. In February 2019 Rabbi Yaakov Medan and others made removing the picture a condition for a joint list with Otzma Yehudit; in January 2020 Naftali Bennett said he would not include on his list anyone who kept it.