Netanyahu rules out giving key ministries to Ben-Gvir, sparking coalition dispute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he intends to keep the Interior and National Security ministries under the control of his Likud party in the next government, rejecting demands by far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir for a senior ministerial position. Netanyahu made the remarks at a conference in the northern Israeli city of Acre, according to the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, triggering a public dispute over the distribution of cabinet portfolios ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for 27th October. Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, has said during his election campaign that he intends to seek the National Security portfolio. He has also called for the Justice Ministry to be assigned to Tally Gotliv, the […]