JERUSALEM, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Wednesday that far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir was reappointed as the country's national security minister.
It came as Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party on Tuesday announced its return to the government after Israel resumed heavy strikes on the Gaza Strip, shattering a two-month ceasefire and killing more than 400 people.
Two other lawmakers of Otzma Yehudit also returned to their previous ministerial posts.
Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the cabinet "unanimously approved" Netanyahu's proposal for Ben-Gvir's reappointment in an overnight meeting.
Ben-Gvir's reinstatement came despite Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's ruling on Tuesday that Netanyahu did not have the legal authority to reappoint Ben-Gvir.
Otzma Yehudit quit the government in January in protest of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which came into effect on Jan. 19. Ben-Gvir said he would return to the government if an intensive military offensive resumed.
The reintegration of Otzma Yehudit is seen as crucial for Netanyahu to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset to pass the state budget later this week, a failure of which could trigger new elections, given that budget delays automatically dissolve the parliament. ■
