Ben Gvir blasts Gallant for agreeing to release the body of an Arab Israeli security prisoner

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) speaks with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shortly before the vote on the so-called reasonableness bill at the Knesset, July 24, 2023. At left is Itamar Ben Gvir. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) speaks with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shortly before the vote on the so-called reasonableness bill at the Knesset, July 24, 2023. At left is Itamar Ben Gvir. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accuses Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of damaging negotiations to release the hostages by agreeing to release the body of an Arab-Israeli security prisoner who died in prison.

“Releasing the bodies of terrorists harms the negotiations for the release of hostages! It is very unfortunate that Minister Gallant does not understand this,” Ben Gvir tweets.

Ben Gvir have expressed strong opposition to a proposed hostage deal scaling back or temporarily halting the fighting, saying it would lead to the government’s dissolution.

Ben Gvir and Gallant have sparred repeatedly, most recently in April when he called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire the defense minister after security forces begin preparations to dismantle the illegal Gal Yosef outpost in the West Bank.

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