Netanyahu Holds Secret Meeting With Ben Gvir, Smotrich to Coordinate Campaign Strategy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The meeting, which took place at the Kirya military headquarters, aimed to coordinate campaign moves in the final weeks before the upcoming elections, with a particular focus on countering the political threat posed by Ofer Winter.

The clandestine gathering occurred after a prolonged period of strained relations between Netanyahu and Ben Gvir. Just the day before, Ben Gvir had accused Netanyahu's office of sending messages to the international community suggesting that his party, Otzma Yehudit, would not be part of the next government.

Ben Gvir stated in response to a question from a Channel 14 reporter, "There are explicit messages from the Prime Minister's office to world governments." This meeting gains further significance amid ongoing tensions and Otzma Yehudit's reportedly rigid demands for coalition negotiations, including the Defense Ministry for Ben Gvir and the Justice Ministry for MK Tally Gotlieb.

Ben Gvir's proposed security plan includes encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza and Judea and Samaria, altering open-fire regulations, disarming the Palestinian Authority, and increasing soldiers' salaries.