Ben Gvir lashes Lapid over his criticism against ‘Zionist values’ resolution

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attacks opposition leader Yair Lapid as “ignorant and a liar” for slamming the far-right party’s proposal to elevate Zionism as a consideration for eligibility for state benefits.

“The proposal not only does not prioritize Jews, but is valid on behalf of soldiers and IDF veterans from any demographic,” Ben Gvir says, after Lapid lambasted the proposal for benefiting non-veteran Jews over veterans from other communities, for example.

Ben Gvir calls Lapid “an extreme leftist who opposes Zionism.”

The proposal is expected to come up for a cabinet vote today, after adding Torah study as a factor for preferential treatment. Ultra-Orthodox politicians had refused to support the measure without a guarantee that their communities, which include non-Zionist groups, could benefit alongside IDF veterans.