Positions for the 2026 election

Otzma Yehudit

A radical nationalist party led by Itamar Ben Gvir, at the far-right end of the political spectrum. The party emphasizes governance, harsher penalties, and expanded enforcement powers; holds hardline positions on national and security issues; and seeks a distinctly Jewish identity in the public sphere.

A documented position on 25 of 30 statements

Democracy and governance

A state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7 should be established under the Commissions of Inquiry Law, with its members appointed by the President of the Supreme Court.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Five Otzma Yehudit members present for the roll-call vote voted against the bill to establish a state commission of inquiry. This is a direct and unambiguous parliamentary-group pattern, not an inference from the party's membership in the coalition.

The Prime Minister should be limited to two consecutive terms in office.

DisagreeStrong evidence

In the roll-call vote on limiting a prime minister to two consecutive terms, all six Otzma Yehudit members listed in the record voted against. The complete record supports coding the party as opposed with high confidence.

Dedicated coalition funds that are not allocated according to equitable criteria should be abolished and transferred to regular ministry budgets, even if doing so would affect existing coalition agreements.

DisagreePartial evidence

Earmarked coalition allocations were approved in accordance with Otzma Yehudit's demands, the opposite of abolishing the funds and transferring them to an equitable allocation process. The principal source is the 2023 budget, and no more current policy commitment was found.

Security, diplomacy and the conflict

Israel should promote a regional-international framework for the civil administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the war, provided that Hamas does not control it.

DisagreePartial evidence

Ben Gvir promotes a continued Israeli presence, settlement, and encouragement of emigration as the alternative for the day after the war. This is incompatible with a regional framework for civilian administration. However, no statement was found in which he explicitly rejects such a framework.

Even after a civil administration is established in the Gaza Strip, Israel should retain long-term security control of Gaza's borders and freedom of military action within it.

AgreeStrong evidence

Ben Gvir opposes withdrawing from the Netzarim Corridor and promotes Israeli settlement and control in the Gaza Strip. Such a position necessarily entails at least long-term security control and freedom of action, so it supports the thesis.

Women should be integrated more broadly into all combat and command roles in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), subject to uniform professional criteria.

DisagreeStrong evidence

In May 2026, Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech explicitly opposed integrating female soldiers into combat units, arguing that it harms the ability to win. This is direct, current opposition to the expansion in the thesis.

Israeli civilian settlement in the Gaza Strip should be renewed.

AgreeStrong evidence

Ben Gvir presented renewed Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip and encouragement of emigration as elements of ‘total victory.’ The party continues to promote the objective publicly.

The death penalty should be imposed on anyone convicted of murder committed as part of an act of terrorism.

AgreeStrong evidence

Otzma Yehudit led the legislation, and members of the parliamentary group supported it in the final vote.

Shared service and burden

Mandatory military or civilian service should apply to all population groups, with only limited exemptions.

DisagreePartial evidence

Ben Gvir supported expanding military service among Haredim but rejected coercion. The thesis concerns a legal obligation, not merely encouragement, so the quotation leans toward opposition.

Significant personal and financial sanctions should be imposed on people legally required to enlist who fail to report without a lawful exemption, including yeshiva students.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Ben Gvir rejected coercion in the conscription of Haredim, and the party supported freezing the arrest of people subject to conscription. Both positions conflict with the sanctions in the thesis.

Religion, state and civic identity

Civil marriage should be available in Israel alongside religious marriage for those who choose it.

DisagreePartial evidence

Otzma Yehudit explicitly opposed civil marriage in its response during the 2019 election. No further explicit statement has been found since then.

Public transport on Shabbat should be permitted in local authorities that choose to provide it.

DisagreePartial evidence

Otzma Yehudit explicitly opposed public transport on Shabbat in its response. No updated formulation has been found since then.

Funding for educational institutions should be conditional on teaching a minimum core curriculum.

No clear public position found

No direct, current party source was found in which Otzma Yehudit determines whether funding for educational institutions should be conditional on teaching a minimum core curriculum.

The right to equality and the prohibition of discrimination should be explicitly entrenched in a Basic Law.

No clear public position found

No direct party source was found that takes a position on generally enshrining the right to equality and the prohibition of discrimination in a Basic Law. Adjacent positions on the Nation-State Law are insufficient.

An Arab party that accepts the government's basic policy guidelines should be permitted to join the coalition.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Ben Gvir and Otzma Yehudit consistently rule out any coalition partnership with Ra'am or an Arab party, without an exception for accepting the coalition guidelines.

Economy, welfare and cost of living

The tax burden on high-income earners should be increased to fund expanded social services.

No clear public position found

No official source or parliamentary action was found that takes a position on raising taxes on high earners in order to expand social services.

The basket of price-controlled food products should be expanded, even if this reduces the profitability of producers and retail chains.

AgreePartial evidence

Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen explicitly sought to expand the number of food products subject to price controls. This is the precise position of a serving parliamentary-group member, not a full party platform.

Tariffs on imported agricultural food products should be reduced, even if this harms some farmers and domestic producers.

DisagreePartial evidence

Yitzhak Kreuzer explicitly opposed tariff removal that harms farmers and backed the fight against it; Kreuzer and Zvika Fogel were also among those demanding protection and assistance for farmers before tariff reductions. These are direct steps against giving tariff reductions priority, but without a platform or a decision by the full parliamentary group, confidence is medium.

Eligibility for daycare subsidies should not be determined solely by the mother's employment; whether the father works, studies, or serves should also be considered.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Limor Son Har-Melech sponsored the bill, and all four Otzma Yehudit members who participated supported determining eligibility based only on the mother's employment.

The VAT-exemption threshold for personal imports should be raised from $75 to $130, even if this harms local shops and businesses that compete with overseas sellers.

AgreeStrong evidence

Otzma Yehudit chair Itamar Ben Gvir voted to approve the exemption up to $130.

Rights, enforcement and internal security

In exceptional cases and subject to judicial review, administrative detention should be permitted for Jewish citizens suspected of planning nationalist violence against Palestinians or the security forces, even when there is insufficient evidence for immediate criminal proceedings.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the end of administrative detention against Jewish settlers and presented it as righting an injustice.

The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law should be eased so that Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens can obtain status after an individual security screening, instead of being subject to a blanket ban.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Otzma Yehudit advanced a more stringent version of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law and therefore opposes replacing the prohibition with individual assessment.

Conversion therapy for minors should be prohibited by law.

No clear public position found

The bill to ban conversion therapy for minors was defeated in January 2026, but the report does not provide a complete roll call or a direct statement by Otzma Yehudit. Coalition membership and the absence of public opposition are insufficient to attribute a stance, so the previous coding is removed from the calculation.

In combating crime in Arab society, a multi-year government-led civilian program that strengthens local authorities should be preferred over relying mainly on the Shin Bet and emergency powers.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Otzma Yehudit continues to promote expanded police powers and exceptional enforcement measures, including Zvika Fogel's current initiatives against criminal organizations. The official parliamentary actions reinforce its preference for security and emergency measures over the priority the thesis gives to civilian and local measures.

Transport and infrastructure

A congestion charge should be implemented in the Gush Dan metropolitan area, with its revenue dedicated to improving public transport, even if private-car travel during peak hours becomes more expensive.

No clear public position found

No Otzma Yehudit party source was found that takes a position on implementing a congestion charge in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and earmarking its proceeds.

Last updated: 2026-08-04