Netanyahu says Ben-Gvir will hold prominent ministerial position in next government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir would hold a prominent position in any future government he forms, following a public dispute over whether Ben-Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party would be included in the next governing coalition.

In a video circulated on social media, Netanyahu told residents of the Israeli city of Lod that “Ben-Gvir will be a prominent minister” in the government he hopes to establish after the 27^th October parliamentary elections.

Netanyahu did not specify which portfolio Ben-Gvir would receive. Ben-Gvir currently serves as national security minister and leads Otzma Yehudit.

The remarks came a day after Ben-Gvir accused Netanyahu’s office of assuring several European Union countries that his party would be excluded from the next government.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Ben-Gvir claimed to have obtained documented information indicating that Netanyahu’s office had made formal commitments to European officials.

“According to confirmed and documented information that reached me in recent days, the Prime Minister’s office formally pledged to several European Union countries that Ben-Gvir would not be part of the next government,” he said.

Netanyahu’s Likud party rejected the allegations, describing them as “false political maneuvers.”

Likud also stated that Netanyahu intended to retain his existing coalition partners in any future government.

The dispute followed accusations by Otzma Yehudit on Saturday that Netanyahu was considering forming a unity government with former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot while excluding Ben-Gvir and his party.

The disagreement comes amid uncertainty over the composition of Israel’s next government.

Opinion polls cited in the report indicate that neither Netanyahu’s political bloc nor the opposition bloc is projected to secure the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, raising questions about potential coalition arrangements following the election.