Ben Gvir accuses Likud of ‘stuttering,’ trying to backtrack on coalition agreements

Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel

Head of the Otzma Yehudit party Itamar Ben Gvir at the scene of a suspected terror attack near the entrance to Jerusalem, on November 23, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Head of the Otzma Yehudit party Itamar Ben Gvir at the scene of a suspected terror attack near the entrance to Jerusalem, on November 23, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Otzma Yehudit chief Itamar Ben Gvir appears to confirm reports Likud is trying to walk back some deals signed with his far-right party, accusing it of “stuttering.”

“In the past days, I hear stuttering about agreements that were already signed and agreed upon,” Ben Gvir says at the outset of his party’s faction meeting.

Ben Gvir points to his demand to loosen open-fire rules and legislate immunity for security forces.

Adding a fresh demand, Ben Gvir says he wants an influential role in the powerful Ministerial Committee on Legislation, the government’s filter for coalition-supported bills.

Presumed incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to want the top spot chairing the committee for himself, and Ben Gvir’s spokesman confirms that the Otzma leader will push to be his stand-in.

“In order to make sure the agreements will happen, we stand by our request to receive tools” the party needs to carry out its security policy, Ben Gvir says.

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