Hospital scandal – Ben-Gvir goes against Netanyahu and gets his way

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir succeeded in canceling invitations to representatives of the Palestinian Authority for the opening of the maternity ward at Al-Maqassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, despite pressure from Netanyahu's office and the UAE embassy. The ceremony took place with only Emirati diplomats in attendance.

The opening of a new maternity ward at Al-Maqassed Hospital in East Jerusalem turned into a political conflict between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Initially, both Emirati diplomats and senior representatives of the Palestinian Authority were invited to the ceremony. Ben-Gvir, citing Shin Bet operational data and police requests, signed an order banning the ceremony with PA members present. The police conveyed to the hospital a condition: if representatives of the Authority were present, the event would be canceled. Netanyahu's office, fearing a diplomatic scandal with Abu Dhabi, tried to pressure the police, but Ben-Gvir refused to compromise. The UAE embassy joined the negotiations, and a senior adviser to the ambassador contacted Ben-Gvir. The minister insisted on the complete exclusion of the PA from the guest list, and ultimately the invitations to Palestinian officials were annulled. The ceremony took place with only Emirati diplomats in attendance. Ben-Gvir's associates stated that members of the terrorist organization PLO have no place in Jerusalem, and that the incident demonstrated the ability to exercise sovereignty without harming relations with friendly countries.