Netanyahu against Ben Gvir: He will not be defense minister - nor internal security minister

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that in the next government, the defense, internal security, and justice portfolios will remain with Likud. In response, Otzma Yehudit harshly attacked, claiming a decision was made to remove Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from the coalition and bring in Gadi Eisenkot. Ben Gvir demands the defense portfolio for his party.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a conference in Acre that in the next government, if he forms it, the internal security portfolio, the defense ministry, and the justice ministry will remain with Likud. This is a direct response to the demand of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to receive the defense portfolio in the next government. In response to Netanyahu's remarks, Otzma Yehudit harshly attacked, claiming that "the cat is out of the bag" and that a decision was made to remove Ben Gvir and the party from the coalition, and instead bring in Gadi Eisenkot, granting the portfolios to the "left." Ben Gvir announced last month his intention to demand the defense portfolio, after a controversial tenure as national security minister. He also requested the justice portfolio for his number two, Tally Gotliv. Two days earlier, at the "People of the State" conference of ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Ben Gvir attacked Netanyahu and called on him to "drink to Eisenkot" instead of trying to take mandates from him. He claimed Netanyahu plans to sit with Eisenkot and form a unity government, warning: "Don't make this mistake. The bloc must be a full right-wing bloc."