Itamar Ben-Gvir Defends Himself Against Amit Segal's Criticism, Suggests Netanyahu's Influence

Itamar Ben-Gvir responded on Monday to a critical column by journalist Amit Segal, who accused him of damaging Israel's international legitimacy. Speaking on Galei Yisrael radio, Ben-Gvir praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but speculated that Segal's recent criticism was influenced by Netanyahu's office. He noted that Segal had not written about him for four years before suddenly publishing the critical piece.

Ben-Gvir argued that Israel is no longer perceived as weak internationally, asserting that the country's stance now commands greater respect. He dismissed Segal's claim that Ben-Gvir harms Israel's legitimacy, saying the opposite is true. Ben-Gvir also referenced similar criticisms previously directed at Menachem Begin and Netanyahu himself.

Additionally, Ben-Gvir suggested that the same criticisms could apply to Bezalel Smotrich, particularly regarding settlement construction in the West Bank, which he claimed enhances Israel's legitimacy globally. He expressed high regard for Segal as one of Israel's sharpest journalists but maintained that the timing and nature of the column indicated external prompting, likely from the Prime Minister's office.