From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Report says Netanyahu excluded Ben Gvir, Regev from security discussions; PM’s office pushes back
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Transportation Minister Miri Regev were excluded from security discussions last night, Channel 13 reports, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to respond.
Channel 13 argues that their exclusion, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s inclusion, is further evidence that “Ben Gvir is seen [by Netanyahu] as a troll, while Smotrich is seen as someone with a different approach with whom one can have a conversation.”
After the report is aired, the Prime Minister’s Office claims “there is no truth” to the story, but goes on to hint the details are accurate yet meaningless.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu regularly holds security meetings, to which different ministers are specifically invited each time,” says the PMO.
The PMO has also denied reports that a new decision-making forum for the war excludes Ben Gvir.
The Times of Israel Community.