Otzma Yehudit officials note ‘positive progress’ in talks to include Ben Gvir in war-managing forum

Officials in the far-right Otzma Yehudit party say there is “positive progress” in talks with the ruling Likud to include National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for a forum to manage the ongoing war.

Speaking to Hebrew media outlets, the officials say they appreciate the prime minister for “not planning on surrendering to the ugly delegitimization campaign against Ben Gvir” by Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and National Unity chair Benny Gantz.

It adds that if an agreement is reached, it will vote for legislation pushed by fellow coalition party Shas that it has thwarted in order to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to include him in the decision-making process of the war.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a swift denial Tuesday night of a Kan news report that talks were taking place to create a new body to manage the war in Gaza that will include Ben Gvir.

The PMO explains that Netanyahu is looking to create “a forum for consultations and updates that will not replace the existing bodies and will not take their authority.”

Lazar Berman contributed to this report.