PM working to settle rift between Gantz, Ben Gvir over prison service chief — Likud

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party says the premier is working to secure a compromise between war cabinet minister Benny Gantz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over an ongoing rift between the pair regarding the head of the Israel Prison Service.

Current IPS chief Katy Perry’s tenure is coming to a close, and Ben Gvir is refusing to keep her on, despite the ongoing war, claiming she has refused to fall in line with his directives.

Gantz is against replacing her, and points to the agreement he signed with Netanyahu to join the government after October 7 stipulating that the cabinet will not make any wartime senior appointments.

“We are committed to an agreement on the extension of senior appointments as was the case with the the Bank of Israel governor and as is expected to be the case with the police commissioner as well,” Likud says in a statement, revealing that it also backs keeping police chief Kobi Shabtai on — something Ben Gvir opposes.

“On the other hand, we understand the difficulty of Minister Ben Gvir has in working with a IPS chief who is subordinate to him after she spoke out against him publicly and personally,” the statement continues, appearing to reference a furious statement Perry issued calling Ben Gvir irresponsible. But this was done after the far-right minister announced he wasn’t keeping her on.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is working to resolve the issue and will bring a decision on the matter to the government for its approval only after exhausting attempts to reach an understanding,” the Likud statement adds.