Ben Gvir again threatens to vote against budget legislation in protest

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatens once again to hold up budget-related legislation over his demands for increased funding to police, according to Hebrew media reports, in what could shape up to be another coalition crisis.

MK Limor Son Har Melech of Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party is reportedly holding up a committee vote on budget-accompanying legislation that would approve a hike in the amount Israelis must contribute to the National Security Institute. According to reports, Ben Gvir is demanding additional funding for the police, which his office oversees.

Some reports claim that Ben Gvir’s true motivation is his continued demand to fire the attorney general — a move the coalition chiefs have indicated they support.

Members of his party voted against the budget during an early vote last week — which nevertheless passed — but ultimately supported the budget in its final vote last night.

While the coalition still has a majority in the Knesset without Otzma Yehudit, the party’s vote is needed in the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee in order to advance the legislation.