JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party said on Tuesday it is rejoining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government after overnight airstrikes on Gaza killed at least 413 people.
In a joint statement, Otzma Yehudit and Netanyahu's Likud party confirmed that the faction would return to the coalition and reassume its ministerial roles.
The move comes as Israel broke the ceasefire with Gaza, launching airstrikes across the enclave. Ben-Gvir, who resigned from the government in January in protest of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, had vowed to return only if an intensive military offensive resumed.
The reintegration of Otzma Yehudit is seen as crucial for Netanyahu to secure a majority to pass the state budget later this week, a failure of which could trigger new elections, given that budget delays automatically dissolve parliament. ■
