PM’s Office: ‘A total lie’ that Netanyahu offered to fire IDF chief, give Ben Gvir credit

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel

Illustrative: Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu (left) with head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party MK Itamar Ben Gvir at a vote in the Knesset plenum, December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/File)
Illustrative: Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu (left) with head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party MK Itamar Ben Gvir at a vote in the Knesset plenum, December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/File)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies a claim by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir that he was promised credit for firing the IDF chief if he agreed to stay in the government.

“Ben Gvir wasn’t offered anything,” the Prime Minister’s Office says in a statement. “It’s a total lie.”

Ben Gvir announced that he would tender his resignation from the government tomorrow in protest of the hostage release-ceasefire deal, although he has said he will not seek to bring down the coalition.

Speaking to Channel 12 news tonight, Ben Gvir claims that Netanyahu promised him that he would oust IDF chief Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi and would say that it was due to pressure from the Otzma Yehudit chief if Ben Gvir agreed to remain in the coalition.

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