Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s demand to become defense minister in the next government, declaring Wednesday that the powerful portfolio must remain under Likud control.

Speaking during an interview with Army Radio, Netanyahu acknowledged Ben Gvir’s interest in the position but made clear that the Otzma Yehudit chairman would not determine the appointment.

Ben Gvir responded by presenting two possible political scenarios. He argued that the Defense Ministry could go to former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in a broad unity government or to himself under a right-wing coalition.

The national security minister also outlined changes he would seek to implement if given the position, including dismantling the Palestinian Authority, encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza and Judea and Samaria, and revising the IDF’s ethical code.

The exchange comes less than two weeks before Israel’s scheduled elections, as political parties begin positioning themselves for negotiations over the composition of the next coalition government.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)