Ben-Gvir: Netanyahu Won't Answer My Phone Calls

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sat down for a pre-Yom Kippur podcast interview with Miki Levin at Maariv, where he made a striking admission about his relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Netanyahu won't answer my calls. It's been weeks."

When asked whether he truly believes Netanyahu wants to bring Gadi Eisenkot into the coalition, Ben-Gvir didn't hesitate. "Yes. He did it in 2009, he left the National Union on the side and went with Ehud Barak. He did the same thing in 2013."

Addressing the video he released criticizing Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir struck a conciliatory tone. "Everything's fine. I respect Netanyahu. I learn a lot from him. He's 27 years older than me. He really is someone I respect as a leader. I'm allowed to say these things to him. And honestly, I was also hurt. It's not like I'm just saying these things for no reason."

"The relationship between us over the past two years was very good, and suddenly he stopped," Ben-Gvir acknowledged.

Asked why he wants to remain in government with a prime minister who refuses to be photographed with him, Ben-Gvir explained his priorities: "First of all, the prime minister is the prime minister of Israel, and I have tremendous respect for him. And even though he doesn't want to be photographed with me, I think there are things here that are for the good of all of Israel."

"The appointment of the attorney general, the appointment of Supreme Court justices, these are more important to me than my personal honor. Yes, he hurts me. Yes, it angers me. Yes, it outrages me. It's very difficult for me that we were, I won't say friends, but yes, we were in a very, very good relationship, and suddenly it stopped."

He then revealed the extent of the freeze: "He doesn't exactly answer the phone in recent weeks." When pressed whether he's actually called and been ignored, Ben-Gvir confirmed: "He doesn't exactly answer the phone."