Otzma Yehudit (עוצמה יהודית)
Other names: Jewish Strength (formerly known as Otzma LeYisrael - Strength for Israel)
Type: Far-right Political Party
Founded: 13 November 2012
Affiliations: Lehava Organization
Country: Israel
Organisation Ideology: Jewish Supremacism/Religious Zionism/ Kahanism, Ultra-nationalism/Anti-Arab Fundamentalism
Founders:
Members of Knesset in Israel Aryeh Eldad
Michael Ben-Ari (Orthodox Jew)
Online Resources
Official website: Jewish Power Party
9k followers
2k subscribers
16.7k followers
2k followers
2. 596 followers
Overview
Otzma Yehudit, led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, advocates for the annexation of the West Bank, the deportation of “enemy” Arabs to neighbouring countries, the supremacy of religious Jewish law in Israel, the rejection of the creation of a Palestinian state - and by this, giving Israel total control of the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the party calls for the Oslo Accords to be canceled, as well as Israeli sovereignty over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Jewish Power Party has been classified as a Religious Zionist, anti-Arab, and far-right political party. The party, however, denies these accusations.
Prior to the Israeli Parliamentary elections in 2019, a historical precedent was set, as the Israeli Supreme Court decided to bar Michael Ben-Ari - a member of the party at the tie from running for elections, on the basis of incitement to racism, despite Israel’s Central Elections Committee’s ( CEC) decision to allow him to run. Later that year, two additional Otzma Yehudit members, Baruch Marzel and Bentzi Gopstein, were barred from running.
The official website of Otzma Yehudit mainly focuses on introducing its visitors to the principles of Jewish power, its goals and values, in an attempt to attract prospective disciples and believers. Some of their principles are, but not limited to:
“Enemies of Israel: The war against the enemies of Israel, will be total, without negotiations, without concessions and without compromises, those that have so far brought only more wars, blood, fire and bereavement.”
“Migration of Israel’s Enemies: In pursuit of true peace, Jewish power will work to expel Israel's enemies from our country. A National Immigration Encouragement Authority will be established. The people of Israel return to Zion and the enemies of Israel return to the countries of origin. In order to preserve the Jewish character of the state, we will work to eradicate the effects of infiltration, both of border thieves and of citizenship against the background of 'family reunification’”.
Ties to Extremism
Otzma Yehudit, has, ever since it was formed in 2012, called for the complete eradication of Arabs from the Holy Land. On 24 February 2019, party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the expulsion of Arab citizens who are not loyal to the State of Israel.
The far-right extremist party believes that the formation of left-wing governments in the State of Israel goes against its principles, values and mission to demolish the secular state of Israel and replace it with a Zionist state based on Biblical principles. The party’s tweets continually call for the formation of Zionist coalitions among extreme-right parties to become more powerful and secure their superiority over the left-wing coalitions to form the government.
The Jewish Power Party has openly advocated the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. In a statement made by Baruch Marzel, a prominent Otzma Yehudit member and figurehead, he claims that “There’s no way we’ll have quiet or peace inside Israel as long as we have here millions of supporters of terror, people that believe in their religion that all of the Land of Israel … is theirs, and that we’re occupiers, and the Jews have no right to a state or can even exist here,” said. “The only way to have peace is to get them out of Israel.”