Live Update
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Otzma Yehudit ends government boycott after Gaza strikes

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and members of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party give a press statement at a home in the southern city of Sderot on May 3, 2023. (Flash90)
The far-right Otzma Yehudit party announces it is ending its boycott of the government following overnight strikes in Gaza that killed three top Islamic Jihad leaders.
“Following the adoption of our position and a transition from containment to attack and targeted assassinations of Islamic Jihad leaders, we will return to vote with the government,” says the party.
The party and leader National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir had been boycotting the Knesset and government meetings over what he called the “feeble” response to the rocket barrage fired at Israel last week.
“We hope that the attacking policy will remain in place over time,” the statement says.