Ben-Gvir says Netanyahu is not answering his calls — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been “not very responsive” to his phone calls in recent weeks. The politician said this on Miki Levin’s podcast for Maariv, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Concerns about the coalition
According to Ben-Gvir, his relationship with Netanyahu had previously been very good, but later changed suddenly. He suggested that the prime minister may have “other plans” and also said that Netanyahu’s office staff advise him to keep his distance from Ben-Gvir.
Over the past month, Ben-Gvir has posted videos on social media addressing Netanyahu directly. He expressed concerns that after the elections, the prime minister may form a broad coalition with Gadi Eisenkot, leaving the Otzma Yehudit party outside the government.
To support these concerns, Ben-Gvir mentioned 2009, when, according to him, Netanyahu left the National Union on the sidelines and went with the then-former prime minister Ehud Barak. He also said that Netanyahu did the same in 2013.
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Participation in the future government
Despite the personal tension, Ben-Gvir said that he wants to remain part of a government led by Netanyahu. He explained that political issues are more important to him than his personal relationship with the head of government.
“The appointment of the attorney general and the appointment of Supreme Court justices are more important to me than my personal honor,” the minister said. He added that he respects Netanyahu and learns a great deal from him, although the prime minister’s current attitude saddens, irritates and angers him.
Ben-Gvir also said that he previously spent four to five hours with Netanyahu every Friday, until an hour before Shabbat. “It is very difficult for me that we were — I would not say friends, but we had a very, very good relationship — and suddenly it stopped,” he concluded.
