National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has accused Israel’s chareidi political representatives of preventing the dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at the beginning of the government’s term, claiming that their refusal helped create the legal and political situation now confronting the chareidi community. In a wide-ranging interview with Bechadrei Chareidim, Ben-Gvir also criticized the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, defended his visits to Har Habayis, expressed concern that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may form a unity government without him, and revealed that he intends to demand the Defense Ministry in post-election coalition negotiations.

Ben-Gvir claimed that chareidi lawmakers had opposed his efforts to remove Baharav-Miara because they believed maintaining a working relationship with her would help them secure government appointments. He argued that the same attorney general is now pursuing policies harmful to the chareidi community, particularly regarding military conscription.

The Otzma Yehudit chairman also revealed that he wants Likud MK Tally Gotliv appointed justice minister in the next government, saying he considers changes to Israel’s judicial system and security policies essential conditions for joining a future coalition.

Addressing criticism from chareidi politicians who have attacked him during the election campaign, Ben-Gvir insisted that he had consistently assisted their community throughout his time in office.

He said chareidi Knesset members had regularly contacted him whenever they encountered difficulties and that his office had made itself available to them at all hours.

Ben-Gvir recalled that Shas chairman Aryeh Deri had repeatedly described him as a genuine friend of the chareidi community, making the current criticism particularly surprising to him.

He suggested that the change in tone was connected to the approaching elections and accused chareidi politicians of attempting to distance themselves from him for political reasons.

According to Ben-Gvir, their refusal to support the attorney general’s removal early in the government’s term was a serious miscalculation whose consequences are now becoming apparent.

The minister returned to that allegation several times during the interview, portraying Baharav-Miara as the central obstacle to policies sought by both his party and the chareidi factions.

Ben-Gvir said he had advocated her dismissal from the outset but encountered opposition from chareidi representatives who believed they could negotiate effectively with her.

He claimed that some had told him, “We know how to get along with her; we can do deals with her,” using an expression suggesting that they believed they could maneuver around potential obstacles.

Ben-Gvir maintained that he refused to abandon his position despite the political consequences and said those now criticizing him should remember who supported removing the attorney general and who opposed it.

His accusations come amid continuing tensions between the government, the attorney general, and chareidi parties over the enforcement of military conscription requirements for yeshiva students.

Asked about the arrests of yeshiva bochurim and the role of the police under his authority, Ben-Gvir insisted that responsibility for the detentions rests with the military police rather than the Israel Police.

He said the military police were carrying out arrests under the direction of the attorney general and that the national security minister has no authority over those operations.

Ben-Gvir argued that arresting yeshiva students would undermine rather than encourage chareidi enlistment.

He further alleged that Baharav-Miara was pursuing the arrests for political reasons, specifically to damage Israel’s right-wing government.

The minister again criticized chareidi lawmakers for failing to support his earlier attempt to dismiss her, saying their decision had allowed the present situation to develop.

His remarks placed responsibility for the enforcement controversy on the attorney general and the chareidi parties rather than on his own ministry.

The question of responsibility remains contested, however, as military enforcement, government policy, judicial rulings, and the attorney general’s legal positions all play roles in the ongoing conscription dispute.

Ben-Gvir also discussed his efforts to encourage chareidi participation in the Israel Police and Border Police, arguing that these institutions can accommodate religious recruits without requiring them to abandon their way of life.

He said his ministry had developed specialized frameworks with adjustments to training, service conditions, and other requirements intended to make police service more accessible to chareidi men.

According to Ben-Gvir, increasing the number of chareidi officers could also improve relations between the police and chareidi communities, particularly following confrontations during demonstrations over military conscription.

In a separate interview earlier this month, Ben-Gvir claimed that the number of chareidim serving in the Israel Police had increased from several dozen when he entered office to more than 1,000. He also said hundreds of chareidim were now serving in the Israel Prison Service.

The minister has additionally cited his efforts to restrict the use of police crowd-control measures at chareidi demonstrations, including the controversial skunk-water spraying system.

Ben-Gvir has argued that the attorney general’s attempt to remove him from office is connected in part to his demands that police treat chareidi demonstrators according to the same enforcement standards applied to other protesters.

In March, Baharav-Miara asked the Supreme Court to order Netanyahu to dismiss Ben-Gvir, arguing that his involvement in police operations and appointments threatened the independence of law enforcement. Netanyahu rejected the demand, maintaining that the minister had been lawfully appointed and that there was no legal basis for his removal.

Ben-Gvir has portrayed the legal proceedings as an attempt to prevent him from implementing his policies, including those he says are intended to protect chareidi rights.

The interview also addressed criticism from former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef, who recently condemned visits to Har Habayis and criticized political support for Ben-Gvir.

Ben-Gvir responded that he respects Rav Yitzchak Yosef and other leading Torah scholars and does not wish to engage in public disputes with rabbonim.

He said his own conduct is guided by rabbinic authorities, including Rav Dov Lior and Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, who hold different halachic positions regarding visits to Har Habayis.

Ben-Gvir acknowledged that legitimate halachic disagreements exist but maintained that he follows the rulings of the rabbonim upon whom he relies.

His criticism, he explained, is directed at politicians who turn halachic disagreements into instruments of political confrontation.

The question of ascending Har Habayis remains a significant point of disagreement between Ben-Gvir and much of the chareidi rabbinic leadership, which maintains the longstanding prohibition against entering the site because of concerns involving ritual purity and the sanctity of areas where entry is forbidden.

Turning to the approaching elections, Ben-Gvir addressed chareidi voters who are disappointed with their political representatives and considering abstaining.

He said he respects those who follow the voting instructions of their rabbonim and would not interfere with such decisions.

At the same time, he urged dissatisfied voters not to remain home or support parties that fail to cross the electoral threshold, arguing that doing so would weaken the political camp opposed to the attorney general.

Ben-Gvir openly appealed to chareidi voters who are reconsidering their political affiliations to support Otzma Yehudit.

The minister also expressed concern that Netanyahu might abandon his existing coalition partners after the elections and instead establish a unity government with former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.

He said comments from individuals close to the prime minister had increased his concern about the possibility.

According to Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu has indicated that he would not retain him as national security minister, while Likud officials have publicly discussed forming a unity government.

Ben-Gvir further claimed that messages had been conveyed from the Prime Minister’s Office to foreign governments indicating that he would not be included in the next coalition.

Those assertions were presented by Ben-Gvir as his understanding of discussions surrounding the next government.

He suggested that Netanyahu might prefer a coalition with fewer internal disagreements, particularly because Ben-Gvir has repeatedly challenged the prime minister over security policy and judicial reform.

The Otzma Yehudit leader said he is unwilling to abandon his positions merely to preserve coalition stability.

He maintained that a government’s success should be measured by the policies it implements rather than the absence of disputes among its ministers.

Ben-Gvir’s concerns about a potential Netanyahu-Eisenkot arrangement come as coalition possibilities have become a major issue in the closing stages of the election campaign.

The minister has repeatedly warned that a broad unity government could prevent the policy changes he considers necessary in the judicial and security establishments.

Asked what he would demand in negotiations following the elections, Ben-Gvir made clear that he intends to seek a more powerful position than the National Security Ministry.

He said he wants to become defense minister, a position that would place him in charge of Israel’s military establishment and allow him to pursue major changes in national security policy.

He also revealed that he wants Likud MK Tally Gotliv appointed justice minister, arguing that she would advance substantial reforms within Israel’s judicial system.

Ben-Gvir stressed that participation in any future government would depend on detailed policy commitments and assurances that those agreements could actually be implemented.