Breaking

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir cannot hold the positions of defence minister or police minister following the upcoming election, stating these portfolios must remain with Likud. The statement has angered the Otzma Yehudit party, with Ben Gvir accusing Netanyahu of planning a coalition with Moshe Eisenkot and attempting to sideline him from senior security roles.

Ben Gvir responded by claiming “the cat’s out of the bag” regarding Netanyahu’s coalition intentions, suggesting the prime minister has already determined post-election government composition without consulting his far-right coalition partners. This represents a significant breach in pre-election coalition agreements and raises questions about the stability of any future government.

The dispute highlights tensions within the right-wing bloc ahead of elections, with Ben Gvir having previously sought key security portfolios as part of coalition negotiations. Netanyahu’s unilateral decision to restrict Ben Gvir’s options threatens to destabilise coalition-building efforts and potentially reshape the political landscape if other parties pursue similar pre-election positioning.

Sources: Ynet, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Walla