Netanyahu Leaning on Top Security Officials to Rein in Smotrich, Ben-Gvir

‘Netanyahu is helpless in the face of Ben-Gvir’s and Smotrich’s demands.’

By: INN

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recruited senior Israeli security officials for his bid to rein in nationalist members of his coalition government, Ma’ariv reported Tuesday morning.

Citing officials privy to the details of Netanyahu’s conversations with top security brass, the report claims that the prime minister has placed ongoing pressure on senior security officials to challenge “the extremists in the government,” with a particular emphasis on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) and Minister in the Defense Ministry and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party).

The officials quoted in the report said Netanyahu has repeatedly asked security chiefs to “get [Smotrich and Ben-Gvir] to ease up” on major security matters.

Netanyahu is said to have made multiple phone calls to the respective directors of every major Israeli security and intelligence organization – including the Mossad, the Shin Bet, and the IDF – to dissuade Smotrich and Ben-Gvir from pursuing policies Netanyahu opposes.

One official quoted anonymously in the report said that while this is not the first time Netanyahu has pressured ministers to his Right to toe the line, it is the first time he has relied on security chiefs to so.

“There were also extremist elements in previous governments established by Netanyahu, but Netanyahu knew how to handle them himself, or did so via political alliances in the Cabinet.”

“This time there is a new reality. Netanyahu is helpless against the demands made by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, and is trying with all his strength to enlist the support and ability to convince [them] in order to induce them to drop their demands, their ideas, their places, and their policies that they are trying to implement.

In related news, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) chided members of the Coalition Monday night, rebuffing their attacks on the Bank of Israel’s decision to raise interest rates.

The Bank of Israel announced overnight that it will raise the benchmark rate by half a point, from 3.75% to 4.25%, to the highest level since 2008. In a statement Monday, the Bank cited continuing high levels of inflation in its decision to raise interest rates yet again, after interest rates were brought to an all-time low of 0.1% last April.

“The Israeli economy is recording strong economic activity, accompanied by a tight labor market and an increase in the inflation environment.”

Several Coalition members publicly criticized the rate hike and called on Smotrich to pressure the Bank to reverse the decision.

“I ask my colleague, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to draw up a plan with the Bank of Israel’s governor to halt the interest rate hikes,” tweeted Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (Likud).

MK David Bitan (Likud), chairman of the Knesset’s Economic Affairs Committee, also demanded the Bank of Israel freeze interest rate hikes, saying that the anti-inflation moves were too costly for Israelis.

In response, Smotrich made a rare social media post in English, likely aimed at reassuring investors abroad and foreign credit rating agencies, rebuffing “populist statements” and vowing that his ministry will not interfere in the Bank of Israel’s decision to clamp down on inflation.

“The independence of Israel’s central bank is fundamental for our strong and innovative economy. As Finance Minister, I stand firmly against populist statements threatening the Bank of Israel’ independence.”

(IsraelNationalNews.com)