Israel’s Ben-Gvir describes Smotrich as arrogant

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and described him as “arrogant” and “ignorant of security and economy”, Anadolu reported citing Hebrew media outlets yesterday.

Israel’s Maariv newspaper said Ben-Gvir has told close confidants: “He [Smotrich] thinks he understands security, economics, and now internal security. The truth is he doesn’t understand any of them.”

The Hebrew newspaper attributed Ben-Gvir’s criticism to comments made by Smotrich to economic reporters a few days ago, during which he criticised Ben Gvir’s “unjustified” demand to double the national security ministry’s budget to 20 billion shekels ($5.4 billion).

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper recently reported that an argument had erupted between Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in September which “ended in a quarrel and exchanging blame”.

According to the paper, Ben-Gvir presented a plan to build 5,000 new detention centres during his meeting with Netanyahu, in addition to a special budget for the project, but Smotrich shouted at him and told him to use available funds in his ministry first before requesting additional funding.

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