Netanyahu Denies Ben-Gvir Will Be Minister, Sparking Coalition Crisis
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Itamar Ben-Gvir will not be a senior minister in the next government, following Ben-Gvir's claim that Netanyahu's office promised EU countries this would be the case. Ben-Gvir criticized Netanyahu's alleged foreign commitments and his own party declared "Ben-Gvir is strong, Israel is strong!" The dispute intensifies a week before elections, with MK Tali Gottlieb defending Ben-Gvir against Netanyahu.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Itamar Ben-Gvir will not be a senior minister in the next government.
- Itamar Ben-Gvir accused Netanyahu's office of promising EU countries he would be excluded from the next government.
- Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, accused Netanyahu of planning to remove him and give portfolios to the left.
- Knesset Member Tali Gottlieb publicly criticized Netanyahu, defending Ben-Gvir's accomplishments.
- The dispute marks a significant coalition crisis just one week before elections.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Itamar Ben-Gvir will not serve as a senior minister in the next government, attempting to appease his political base. This statement follows Ben-Gvir's accusation that Netanyahu's office had officially promised several European Union countries that Ben-Gvir would not be part of the next government. Ben-Gvir expressed deep sorrow over this information, which he claimed was verified and confirmed, stating that the Prime Minister's office made an explicit commitment to these nations.
Ben-Gvir directly addressed Netanyahu, urging him not to rely on support from the left and emphasizing that true historical remembrance would come from genuine right-wing policies and defeating enemies. He also recalled Netanyahu's 2022 election promise that Ben-Gvir would not be a minister, a promise he later broke by appointing him Minister of National Security and a cabinet member.
The controversy escalated after Netanyahu declared at an election event in Acre that key ministerial portfolios, including Defense, Justice, and National Security, would remain with the Likud party in the next government. In response, Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, accused Netanyahu of intending to remove Ben-Gvir from the coalition, replace him with someone from the left, and give these portfolios to the left. They asserted that only the public would decide, proclaiming, "Ben-Gvir is strong, Israel is strong!"
Adding to the internal Likud friction, Knesset Member Tali Gottlieb publicly criticized Netanyahu, defending Ben-Gvir and listing his accomplishments, including prison reforms, demolishing illegal structures, arms reform, and significant salary increases for police and prison officers. She questioned why Netanyahu would sideline such a minister.
This sharp confrontation occurs just a week before elections, marking a significant crisis between the Prime Minister and his right-wing coalition partner. The central question remains whether Netanyahu indeed made commitments to foreign entities to exclude Ben-Gvir, or if this is Ben-Gvir's tactic to pressure the Prime Minister publicly.
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