Netanyahu may fall, but his far-right legacy in Israel is going nowhere

As Israel's opposition looks to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speculation has centered on the possible fate of the current government's more hardline, right-wing elements, including the parties led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been convicted of inciting terrorism. While all cabinet members have supported Israel's war on Gaza, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have been the focus of international attention and criticism by Western governments.

With talk of Netanyahu forming a unity government with former chief-of-staff Eisenkot, both ministers have publicly opposed such a government. Ben-Gvir claimed Netanyahu has a choice of selecting himself to 'save Israel' or Eisenkot, while Smotrich warned his ultra-Orthodox allies against negotiating with Eisenkot, saying he will 'dump them' once he uses their votes to oust Netanyahu.

Hardline policies

Netanyahu formed a coalition government with Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit and Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party in 2022, giving both several of Israel's most important cabinet positions. Drawing on hardline Zionism and what critics describe as unapologetic racism, they have exploited their political leverage to advance Israel's most hardline policies over the past three years.

Both have been enthusiastic proponents of Israel's war on Gaza, repeatedly threatening to withdraw their support when it appeared Netanyahu might falter under international pressure. They have also repeatedly called for the annexation, settlement and ethnic cleansing of Gaza. Smotrich has encouraged the expansion of illegal settlements within the West Bank, while Ben-Gvir has politicized the Israeli police force to mirror his hardline outlook.

Lasting impact

In June 2025, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir were sanctioned by Western countries including Ireland and the Netherlands, which imposed travel bans and froze their assets. Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin stated these measures were due to their shared 'desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine'.

Both figures have been accused of transforming their ministries in ways that will linger long after they leave government. Smotrich established a separate Settlement Administration and accelerated illegal settlement expansion, reviving the E1 settlement plan in August 2025 which he boasted would 'bury the idea of a Palestinian state'. Ben-Gvir introduced sweeping changes to the prison service, imposing severe restrictions on Palestinian prisoners.

Analysts suggest that ejecting the pair from mainstream politics is unlikely to dent support for their groups, which together have about 10 percent of the Israeli electorate. Their lasting legacy may be the official sanction of hatred towards Palestinians, which has made racism 'almost proof of patriotism' in Israel, according to Palestinian former MP Aida Touma-Suleiman.