Netanyahu: We will not grant Defense or National Security to "Ben-Gvir"
Agencies3 min read
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday his intention to keep the Defense and National Security portfolios in the hands of the "Likud" party in the next government, which means rejecting the demand of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to take over either of the two portfolios.
Netanyahu's position came during a conference in the city of Acre in northern Israel, according to the Hebrew newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth," which stated that his remarks sparked a public dispute with Ben-Gvir regarding the distribution of ministerial portfolios, should Netanyahu succeed in forming a government after the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27.
Ben-Gvir had announced during his election campaign his intention to demand the Defense portfolio, in addition to the Justice portfolio, which he wants to assign to Tally Gotliv, the second candidate on his "Otzma Yehudit" party list.
In response to Netanyahu's position, the "Otzma Yehudit" party launched an attack on him, considering that keeping the key portfolios in the hands of "Likud" reveals a trend to exclude Ben-Gvir from the upcoming coalition.
The party said in a statement: "What was hidden has come to light."
It added that Netanyahu's statements regarding keeping the Defense, National Security, and Justice ministries in the hands of "Likud" "reinforce the conclusion that a decision has been made to exclude Minister Ben-Gvir and the Otzma Yehudit party from the coalition, to include Gadi Eisenkot instead, and to grant these portfolios to the left."
The escalation comes two days after an attack launched by Ben-Gvir on Netanyahu, in which he accused him of trying to attract his party's voters instead of working to attract votes from outside the right-wing camp.
During a conference organized by the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" and the "Ynet" website, Ben-Gvir said, addressing Netanyahu: "Instead of taking electoral seats from me, go and take them from Eisenkot."
He also accused Netanyahu of planning to form a unity government with former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, warning him against taking this step.
Ben-Gvir added, directing his speech to Netanyahu: "Do not make this mistake; the camp must remain entirely right-wing."
In September, Ben-Gvir announced his intention to demand the Defense portfolio and proposed a program that includes encouraging what he calls "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, disarming the Palestinian Authority, and changing the open-fire regulations in the Israeli army.
The dispute reflects the escalating competition between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir over the shape of the next government coalition and the distribution of ministerial portfolios ahead of the elections.
On Thursday, voting in the Israeli general elections began at Tel Aviv's diplomatic missions abroad, about two weeks before the polling scheduled for October 27.
