Netanyahu denies Ben-Gvir claim on EU promise to exclude him

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a sharp attack Sunday on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, following Ben-Gvir's claims that the Prime Minister's Office promised European Union countries it would not include him in the next government. "This is a complete lie," Netanyahu stated in a media interview.

"I think there's no greater absurdity than this. It's spin that he's pushing. It's simply a lie," Netanyahu said in response to Ben-Gvir's accusations. The Prime Minister emphasized that he has told everyone who asked, and even those who didn't, that he will form the next government, with Hashem's help, based on the existing coalition partners.

Netanyahu laid out the iron principles on which the next government will be based: "No Palestinian state, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, an aggressive policy and not containment, very strong, and of course also a free economy.

This entire statement as if I said things to European governments, it's a complete lie. Enough with these spins. Enough shooting inside the armored vehicle.

I have to tell you, I'm shooting outward, Bezalel is shooting outward, and unfortunately someone is advising Itamar to shoot inward."

The Prime Minister was referring to Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who according to him is working together with him against external enemies.

The remarks come against the backdrop of Ben-Gvir's claims that Netanyahu will exclude him from the government, and therefore he is calling on voters to vote for Otzma Yehudit rather than Likud. Ben-Gvir claimed he has "solid information" that the Prime Minister's Office conveyed a commitment to European Union countries not to include him in the next government.

Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir in the Knesset plenum (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Ben-Gvir also warned that attempts to weaken Otzma Yehudit could endanger the continuation of right-wing rule. "Don't waste the effort, don't count on legitimacy from the left," Ben-Gvir said in a statement he released, adding: "If you decide and defeat our enemies, if you save Israeli democracy from the jurists' coup, if you lead a true right-wing policy, the left will not forgive you."

The confrontation between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir is taking place just one week before the Knesset elections, as both sides try to attract voters from the right-wing camp. Ben-Gvir is calling on voters to vote for Otzma Yehudit to strengthen his position vis-à-vis Netanyahu, while the Prime Minister seeks to concentrate right-wing votes in Likud.

Ben-Gvir remains without a vote-sharing agreement with any other party, after choosing not to sign with Ofer Winter of Amcha Yisrael. The agreement between Likud and Religious Zionism was already signed about ten days ago, leaving Otzma Yehudit in an independent race.