Netanyahu Insists Ministry of Justice Will Remain Under Likud Control
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly decided that the Ministry of Justice will remain with Likud in any future right-wing government, amid competing demands from coalition partners.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clarified in closed discussions that if the right-wing bloc wins the upcoming elections and forms the next government, the Ministry of Justice will remain under the control of Likud and will not be handed over to any coalition partner.
Coalition Demands and Political Shifts
According to journalist Yehuda Schlesinger of Walla, the Ministry of Justice is already emerging as one of the most coveted and sensitive portfolios in potential post-election coalition negotiations. Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir has already declared that in the next government, he will demand the justice portfolio for the number two spot on his list, Member of Knesset Tali Gotliv. Gotliv left Likud in September 2026 to join Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit after securing an agreement that she would not be declared a defector, taking the second spot in the party.
Potential Candidates Within Likud and Right-Wing Factions
Within Likud, several potential names are being mentioned for the position, including incumbent Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, along with two newly reserved candidates on the Likud list: media personality and Channel 14 anchor Yaakov Bardugo and attorney David Peter. It is worth noting that Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party is also eyeing the portfolio, alongside Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman.
"The Ministry of Justice will remain in the hands of Likud and will not be transferred to coalition partners," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stated in closed conversations.
The Battle Over Legal Reforms
The expected battle over the ministry is no coincidence. Following a term defined by the struggle surrounding the judicial overhaul, the Ministry of Justice is set to be one of the central focus points of the next government, should it be formed by the current coalition bloc. Right-wing factions expect continued efforts to modify the judicial system, including changes to the judicial selection process, the status of legal counsel to the government, and the overall relationship between the executive branch and the judiciary. For Netanyahu, control over the ministry ensures that responsibility for these critical reforms remains firmly within his own party.
