Israel’s Netanyahu offers far-right Zionist Ben-Gvir national security ministry

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to offer far-right Zionist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir the portfolio of the National Security minister in the new government.

Netanyahu’s Likud party agreed with Ben-Gvir, the head of the Jewish Strength party, on other positions as well. These include the portfolio of the minister for Development of the Periphery of Negev and Galilee, Minister for National Fortitude, and Deputy Minister for the Economy.

Under their deal, the National Security Ministry will have expanded authorities, including control of the border police.

Outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz criticized Netanyahu’s decision in a tweet, saying: “National security – or the dismantling of security into pieces of authority and the establishment of a private army for a strong man?

“This morning we were informed of an agreement between Ben Gvir and Netanyahu that marks the direction in which the next government is going: breaking up the government’s powers according to political necessity into fragments of ministries,” he added.

“Netanyahu chose disgrace – which will lead to a security danger,” he said.

Netanyahu is still in talks to form a coalition government after winning a majority in the Knesset earlier this month.

These decisions are also likely to have important repercussions for the Palestinians, who have already expressed grave concerns about the radicalism displayed by Netanyahu’s new government in the making.

Relentless growth of illegal Jewish settlements as well as arrest raids and demolitions on a daily basis, live fire at unarmed protesters leading to casualties and injuries have become the order of the day in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. A new radical Zionist regime with extremists holding the most important ministries means a worsening of the situation for the Palestinians in the coming days.