Ben Gvir denies physical confrontation with Shin Bet chief during security meeting

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir denies media reports that Mossad head David Barnea and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir were forced to intervene to prevent a physical confrontation between him and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar at a security consultation last night.

While Ben Gvir has confirmed confronting Bar during the meeting, as initially reported, he vehemently denies a new Channel 12 report stating that the two men had to be kept separate as he “lost his temper,” requiring intervention by Barnea and Zamir.

The confrontation came in the wake of a previous Channel 12 report that the Shin Bet conducted a covert probe into the possible infiltration of extreme-right elements into the Israel Police following suspected political meddling in the force by Ben Gvir’s office.

“Any statement that even hints at a physical confrontation in the room between Minister Ben Gvir and Ronen Bar, or an attempt at such a confrontation, is not only a spin designed to divert attention from the political and mafia investigation that Bar has led but also constitutes defamation,” Ben Gvir’s office says in a statement.

“A number of reporters published the lie and were forced to publish a clarification or delete it. The minister clarifies that any false publication on the subject will result in a defamation lawsuit,” the statement continues.

Ben Gvir admits that he sharply criticized and raised his voice against Bar, but says that there was “no incident that came close to a physical confrontation. This is a complete lie.”

Addressing reporters in the Knesset earlier today, Ben Gvir accused Bar of collecting intelligence on Police Commissioner Daniel Levy, stating that he “should sit in prison” for having “conspired” against Israeli democracy.