Netanyahu defends partnership with Ben Gvir: He’s changed

Prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu defends his partnership with far-right Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, saying he has moderated his views.

In an interview with NPR, Netanyahu is asked about bringing Ben-Gvir into his coalition and making him police minister despite his previous calls to expel Arabs.

“His eligibility [to serve in the Knesset] was decided by the Supreme Court… He’s modified a lot of his views since then. And I have to say that with power comes responsibility,” says Netanyahu. “Not always; sometimes it works the other way around.”

“And certainly [it’s one thing to speak in] political campaigns a decade and a half ago, and it’s another to actually be in a position of responsibility in governance, and I certainly will ensure that that will be the case,” Netanyahu says.

Netanyahu adds that his coalition partners will have to conform to his policies.

“They are joining me. I’m not joining them,” he says. “I’ll have two hands firmly on the steering wheel. I won’t let anybody do anything to LGBT [rights] or to deny our Arab citizens their rights.”