Otzma Yehudit's flagship plan for this election is a new government ministry to run what the party calls "voluntary emigration" from Gaza, with a target of about 1.86 million people leaving within seven years.46
Who is Otzma Yehudit?
Otzma Yehudit, which means "Jewish Power," runs on the ballot letter Bet, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, the outgoing national security minister.114
What has Otzma Yehudit published?
There's no single platform document, no מצע, on their site.2 What they have published comes in three pieces.
First, a full plan called "Disengagement 710," with its own website and a PDF booklet in Hebrew, released in early September.456
Second, on September 22, a six-point security program and a six-point justice program, released together with the party's demand for the defense ministry for Ben Gvir and the justice ministry for MK Tally Gotliv.7 There's a Russian version of that page on the party site too.8
Third, press releases on their website and posts on Ben Gvir's Telegram channel, which the party site links to.29
Almost all of it is about security, the Palestinians and the courts, so many of the topics below are short.
Otzma Yehudit's positions, topic by topic
The same twelve topics, in the same order, for every party. Where nothing was published, the episode says so.
What does Otzma Yehudit say about security and foreign policy?
Start with Gaza. The 710 plan calls for a dedicated government ministry for "voluntary emigration" from the Gaza Strip, with its own minister, budget and international negotiating team.4
The targets are about 250,000 people leaving in the first year, 1.11 million within three years and about 1.86 million within seven years.6 The plan itself calls those policy targets, and says each quarter's expansion would be capped by the lowest of three numbers: verified applications, places destination countries have signed for, and operational capacity.4
It says, in its words, "not deportation by force," and that no one leaves without their free consent and a destination country that has agreed to take them.4
The budget is 10 billion shekels to start, and up to 50 billion more from Israel, released only when outside funding and signed destination places exist.4 Countries under review, according to the party, include Turkey, Ethiopia, Congo and Arab states.6 The plan also describes up to 24 months of support after arrival and a "free will commissioner" who can stop a case.4
The party also wants to encourage voluntary emigration from Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, but I didn't find a separate plan for that.7
Then the six-point security program. Along with emigration, it lists: disarming what it calls the "Palestinian terror authority" and arresting its senior officials who support terror; changing the IDF's open-fire rules; raising soldiers' pay and giving free land to combat soldiers; changing what it calls Asa Kasher's "progressive" IDF ethics code; and opening elite units, including 8200, to the whole population.7
In a Telegram post on September 29, Ben Gvir explained each point. On the open-fire rules he wrote that a soldier who is afraid to fire at an approaching terrorist for fear of prosecution is "a disgrace."9 On the ethics code, he wants to stop what he calls "far-left foundations" from shaping IDF training, and to teach soldiers "values of Judaism, Zionism and a spirit of fighting and victory."9
On the West Bank, Ben Gvir said on September 29 that as defense minister, Areas A and B would be "exactly like Area C."11 Quick context: under the Oslo accords, A and B are areas where the Palestinian Authority runs civil affairs, and C is under full Israeli control. The party's "About" page says it has promoted applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea, Samaria and Binyamin.3
On the death penalty, Ben Gvir wrote that as defense minister he would act so that murderous terrorists are executed.12 After a deadly attack in Binyamin in September, he demanded that the death penalty law for terrorists, which he says the party passed, be applied to the attacker.22 And in a radio interview on Reshet Bet, as his own Telegram channel summarized it on September 29, he said that once he has the defense portfolio he would see to burning the bodies of Yahya Sinwar and the October 7 attackers. That one was said in an interview, and I'm going by his channel's summary of it.20
On Iran and Lebanon, Ben Gvir said in June, opening his party's Knesset faction meeting, that Israel must not accept the US Iran ceasefire, and that "the period of endless rounds of fighting is over," in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.16 The same statement says the party values the friendship with the United States, but that responsibility for Israel's security rests with Israel's government alone.16
And in September, Ben Gvir wrote to the prime minister and the foreign minister asking them to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, after reports of expected British sanctions.14
What does Otzma Yehudit say about accountability for October 7?
I couldn't find a published position on a state commission of inquiry into October 7. The one inquiry the party does call for is aimed at the attorney general, which I'll get to under the courts.15
What does Otzma Yehudit say about the economy and the cost of living?
The only economic item I found is raising pay for conscript soldiers, especially combat soldiers, with no figure attached.79 Nothing on taxes, prices or the budget.
What every party says about the economy and the cost of living
What does Otzma Yehudit say about housing?
Two items. Free land for soldiers in the Negev and the Galilee.9 And a new party headquarters for the Druze community, which says it will work on the housing and planning shortage in Druze towns, including faster master plans and paths to legalize existing buildings.17 Nothing on housing prices in general.
What does Otzma Yehudit say about religion and state?
I couldn't find a published position on Haredi military service, Shabbat, marriage or religious funding. Ben Gvir did write that he will keep working to "strengthen governance on the Temple Mount," without saying what that means in practice.13
What does Otzma Yehudit say about the judiciary and governance?
This is Tally Gotliv's six-point justice program.7 First, fire the attorney general immediately when the next government forms. Second, Supreme Court justices would be appointed only after a hearing in the Knesset Constitution Committee and a two-thirds vote. Third, limit the High Court by bringing back the standing requirement and listing subjects the court can't rule on. Fourth, abolish the screening course for judicial candidates, which the program calls a tool of "the legal junta." Fifth, tougher sentencing for crime organizations and terrorists. And sixth, scrap the State Attorney's procedure that requires its prior approval before a criminal investigation into offenses like incitement and sedition can be opened.7
Separately, in July Ben Gvir wrote to the prime minister that the party's threshold condition for joining the next government is removing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, and it would also demand a review committee with criminal powers to investigate her and her staff.15
What does Otzma Yehudit say about education?
The party's "About" page says it supports strengthening Jewish identity and tradition in schools.3 That's the whole of it. Nothing on schools, teachers or universities.
What does Otzma Yehudit say about health?
I couldn't find a published position on health.
What does Otzma Yehudit say about social welfare, pensions and the elderly?
On welfare, pensions, or the elderly, I found nothing published.
What every party says about social welfare, pensions and the elderly
What does Otzma Yehudit say about Arab citizens and minorities?
Besides the Druze headquarters, Ben Gvir wrote that police and the National Guard will keep enforcing noise complaints inside mosques: "a mosque is not extraterritorial ground," and "that's how it will continue."21 He also wrote that his opponents want a government without him so that police stop demolishing illegal houses in the Negev, and "we won't let them."23 I didn't find a broader published policy on Arab citizens.
What does Otzma Yehudit say about immigration, absorption and the diaspora?
No published position on aliyah or the diaspora. When this party talks about emigration, it means Palestinians leaving Gaza and the West Bank.
What every party says about immigration, absorption and the diaspora
What does Otzma Yehudit say about the environment, energy and transportation?
I couldn't find anything published on the environment, energy, or transportation.
What every party says about the environment, energy and transportation
What Otzma Yehudit puts front and center
The 710 plan is the thing the party itself calls its flagship for this election, and Ben Gvir wrote that in the next term the party wants to head the new emigration ministry.619 The other thing they lead with is the two portfolios: defense for Ben Gvir, justice for Gotliv.7 Their campaign slogan is "Whoever believes is not afraid."18
What Otzma Yehudit hasn't published
I couldn't find published positions on an October 7 commission of inquiry, the cost of living and taxes, general housing, Haredi service, health, welfare and pensions, education beyond one line, aliyah, or the environment and transportation.
Sources
Everything above comes from what Otzma Yehudit made public: its platform, website and official accounts, and on-the-record statements by its leaders. Each line was checked against a saved copy of its source. Most sources are in Hebrew.
- S1
- S2
- S3
- S4
- S5
- S6
- S7
- S8
- S9
- S10
- S11
- S12
- S13
- S14
- S15
- S16
- S17
- S18
- S19
- S20
- S21
- S22
- S23
Transcript
The words as spoken in the episode, from its captions. Select a time to listen from there.
Full transcript
Intro
Otzma Yehudit's flagship plan for this election is a new government ministry to run what the party calls voluntary emigration from Gaza, with a target of about 1.86 million people leaving within seven years. This is Close Read, and this is a series about what Israel's parties are promising to do in their own published words for
About this series
English-speaking voters ahead of the October 27th election. One party per episode. I only use the party itself as made public. Their platform, their website, their official accounts, and on-the-record statements by their leaders. If they didn't publish it, it doesn't count. And if they publish nothing, that's the episode. Otzma Yehudit, which means Jewish power, runs on the ballot letter BET, led by Itamar
Who they are
Ben-Gvir, the outgoing national security minister. There's no single platform document on their site. What they have published comes in three pieces. First, a full plan called Disengagement 710, with its own website and a PDF booklet in Hebrew, released in early September. Second, on September 22nd, a six-point security program and a six-point justice program, released together with the party's demand for the defense ministry for Ben-Gvir and the justice ministry for M.K. Tali Gottlieb. There's a Russian version of that page on the party's site, too. Third, press releases on their website and posts on Ben-Gvir's Telegram channel, which the party's site links to. Almost all of it is about security, the Palestinians, and the courts, so many of the topics below are short.
Start with Gaza. The 710 plan calls for a dedicated government ministry for voluntary
Security and foreign policy
immigration from the Gaza Strip, with its own minister, budget, and international negotiating team. The targets are about 250,000 people leaving in the first year, 1.11 million people within three years, and about 1.86 million within seven years. The plan itself calls those policy targets, and says each quarter's expansion should be capped by the lowest of three numbers, verified applications, places destination countries have signed for, and operational capacity. It says in its words, quote, not deportation by force, and that no one leaves without their free consent and a destination country that has agreed to take them. The budget is about 10 billion shekels to start, and up to 50 billion more from Israel, released only when outside funding and signed destination places exist.
Countries under review, according to the party, include Turkey, Ethiopia, Congo, and Arab states. The plan also describes up to 24 months of support after arrival and a free will commissioner who can stop a case. The party also wants to encourage voluntary immigration from Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, but I did not find a separate plan for that. Then the six-point security program. Along with immigration, it lists disarming what it calls, quote, the Palestinian Terror Authority, and arresting its senior officials who support terror, changing the IDF's open fire rules, raising soldiers' pay and giving free land to combat soldiers, changing what it calls Asakashar's progressive IDF ethics code, and opening elite units, including 8,200, to the whole population.
In a Telegram post on September 29th, Ben Gavir explained each point. On the open fire rules, he wrote that a soldier who is afraid to fire at an approaching terrorist for fear of prosecution is, quote, a disgrace. On the ethics code, he wants to stop what he calls, quote, far-left foundations from shaping IDF training, and to teach soldiers, quote, values of Judaism, Zionism, and a spirit of fighting and victory. On the West Bank, Ben Gavir said on September 29th that as defense minister, areas A and B would be, quote, exactly like Area C, end quote. Quick context. Under the Oslo Accords, A and B are areas where the Palestinian Authority runs civil affairs, and C is under full Israeli control. The party's about page says it has promoted applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea, Samaria, and in Benjamin.
On the death penalty, Ben Gavir wrote that as defense minister, he would act so that murderous terrorists are executed. After a deadly attack in Benjamin, in September, he demanded that the death penalty law for terrorists, which he says the party passed, be applied to the attacker. And in a radio interview on Reshet Bet, as his own Telegram channel summarized it on September 29th, he said that once he has the defense portfolio, he would cede to burning the bodies of Yahya Sinwar and the October 7th attackers. That one was said in interview, and I'm going by his channel summary of it. On Iran and Lebanon, Ben Gavir said in June, opening his party's Knesset faction meeting, that Israel must not accept the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and that the period of endless rounds of fighting is over in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
The same statement says the party values the friendship with the United States, but that responsibility for Israel's security rests with Israel's government alone. And in September, Ben Gavir wrote to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, asking them to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem after reports of expected British sanctions. I could not find a published position on a state commission of inquiry until October 7th. The one inquiry the party does call for is
October 7 accountability
aimed at the Attorney General, which I'll get to under the courts. The only economic item I found is raising pay for conscript soldiers, especially
Economy and cost of living
combat soldiers, with no figure attached. Nothing on taxes, prices, or the budget. Two items that stand out in this area. Free land for soldiers in the Negev and the Galilee.
Housing
And a new party headquarters for the Druze community, which says it will work on the housing and planning shortage in Druze towns, including faster master plans and paths to legalize existing buildings. Nothing on housing prices in general. I could not find a published position on Haredi military service, Shabbat, marriage, or religious funding.
Religion and state
Ben-Gavir did write that he will keep working to, quote, strengthen governance on the Temple Mount, without saying what that means in practice. This is Tali Gottlieb's six-point justice program. First, fire the Attorney General immediately
Judiciary and governance
when the next government forms. Second, Supreme Court justices would be appointed only after a hearing in the Knesset Constitution Committee and a two-thirds vote. Third, limit the high court by bringing back the standing requirement and listing subjects the court cannot rule on. Fourth, abolish the screening course for judicial candidates, which the program calls a tool of, quote, the legal junta. Fifth, tougher sentencing for crime organizations and terrorists. And sixth, scrap the state attorney's procedure that requires its prior approval before a criminal investigation into offenses, like incitement and sedition, can be opened. Separately, in July, Ben-Gavir wrote to the Prime Minister that the party's threshold condition for joining the next government is removing Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara and would also demand a review committee with criminal powers to investigate her and her staff.
Besides the Druze headquarters, Ben-Gavir wrote that police and the National Guard will keep enforcing noise complaints inside mosques. Quote, a mosque is not extraterritorial ground, end quote. End quote, that's how it will continue, end quote. He also wrote that his opponents want a government without him so that police stop demolishing illegal houses in the Negev and we won't let them. I didn't find a broader published policy on Arab citizens. No published position on immigration or the diaspora. When this party talks about emigration, it means Palestinians, leaving Gaza and the West Bank.
I couldn't find anything published on the environment, energy, or transportation. The 7-10 plan is a thing the party itself calls its flagship for this election. And Ben-Gavir wrote that in the next term, the party wants to head the new emigration ministry. The other thing they lead with is the two portfolios. Defense for Ben-Gavir, justice for Gottlieb. Their campaign slogan is, quote, whoever believes is not afraid, end quote. I couldn't find published positions on an October 7th commission of inquiry, the cost of living and taxes, general housing, Haredi
Health, Immigration: no stated position
service, health, welfare and pensions, education beyond one line, Aliyah, or the environment and transportation. That's what Otsma Yehudit has put in writing as of this recording. Every source I use is linked in the description, most of them in Hebrew, so you can read them yourself. If they publish more before the election, I'll do my best to pin an update in the comments. Next is list number 15, New Order, and the full playlist is linked below.
