Ben Gvir: Netanyahu, trying to prevent my resignation, offered to fire IDF chief and let me claim credit

Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when trying to persuade him not to resign, offered to fire IDF Chief Herzi Halevi and give Ben Gvir the credit for the move.

Speaking to Channel 12, he contrasts his imminent resignation with the fact that others, such as fellow far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to quit if Israel were to leave the Philadelphi Corridor, are not doing so. “I’m a man of principle,” he says, and, therefore, he is quitting over this “terrible” deal.

Ben Gvir says the deal is creating the ground for the next kidnappings of hostages.

He says there should be a rule that terrorists who carry out murders not be released in a hostage deal.

He says Netanyahu, trying to prevent his resignation, offered the same promises he made to Smotrich of increased settlement building and “offered me that they’ll say, regarding the chief of staff [Herzi Halevi], that’s he is being fired because of me.”