WNAM MONITORING: Tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are mounting over the composition of a potential government following the Oct. 27 Knesset election, according to Israeli media.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the dispute centers on whether Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party would be part of a future Netanyahu-led coalition.
The broadcaster reported that Netanyahu had spoken with Ben-Gvir and Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv and assured them that Otzma Yehudit would be included in his next government.
Ben-Gvir’s party denied the report, saying no such conversation had taken place between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir in recent weeks.
It instead claimed that Netanyahu had told several figures that Otzma Yehudit would not be part of his next government and that he preferred Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot as a coalition partner.
Ben-Gvir later criticized Netanyahu publicly, saying Otzma Yehudit had shown greater loyalty to him than some Likud members and objected to what he described as efforts to replace him with Eisenkot.
Israel is scheduled to hold its Knesset election on Oct. 27, with the composition of the next government dependent on coalition agreements among parties in the 120-seat parliament.
