Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Netanyahu-Ben-Gvir Rift Deepens Ahead of Oct. 27 Election


(MENAFN) Tensions are escalating between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over who will sit in a future governing coalition following the Oct. 27 Knesset election, according to Israeli media.

Channel 12 reported that the rift centers on whether Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party will remain part of a Netanyahu-led government going forward. The broadcaster said Netanyahu had spoken directly with Ben-Gvir and Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv, assuring both that Otzma Yehudit would have a place in his next coalition.

Ben-Gvir's party disputed that account entirely, saying no such conversation between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir had taken place in recent weeks. Instead, the party claimed Netanyahu had told several other figures that Otzma Yehudit would be excluded from his next government, and that he favored Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot as a coalition partner instead.

Ben-Gvir responded with public criticism of Netanyahu, arguing that Otzma Yehudit had demonstrated greater loyalty to the prime minister than some members of his own Likud party, and pushing back against what he characterized as an effort to sideline him in favor of Eisenkot.

Israel's Knesset election is set for Oct. 27, with the shape of the next government ultimately hinging on coalition negotiations among parties across the 120-seat parliament.

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