Itamar Ben Gvir Accuses Netanyahu of Manipulating Unity Talks to Pressure Feiglin

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid reports of advanced negotiations between Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin for a joint run in a technical bloc. Ben Gvir accuses Netanyahu of orchestrating a call for unity between himself and Smotrich as a timed move to influence the talks between Smotrich and Feiglin. This accusation follows Ben Gvir's refusal last Friday to Netanyahu's call for unity talks with Smotrich.

Ben Gvir expressed his surprise at reports that Smotrich and Feiglin, allegedly mediated by Netanyahu, were conducting advanced negotiations. He claims the public call for unity by Netanyahu and Smotrich was staged solely to pressure Feiglin into lowering his demands. Ben Gvir also alluded to a previous confrontation with Netanyahu over the Altalena affair, criticizing Netanyahu for boycotting events he attended and for what he calls a cynical unity appeal.

In a pointed message to Netanyahu, Ben Gvir reminded him of his identity, stating, "My name is Itamar Ben Gvir, not Benny Gantz." Meanwhile, journalist Amit Segal reported that Netanyahu was neither aware of nor involved in the advanced negotiations between Smotrich and Feiglin.