A beginning of a conflict… Ben Gvir describes Smotrich as arrogant and ignorant of security and economy
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, describing him as “arrogant” and “ignorant of security and economic affairs,” according to Israel Today newspaper, Wednesday.
Israel Today said on Wednesday that Ben Gvir, who is an extreme right-winger conveyed to those close to him his dissatisfaction with Smotrich, who is also an extreme right-winger.
Ben-Gvir said, “Smotrich is very arrogant, and he thinks he knows about security and economics, and now he understands internal security, and in reality, he doesn’t understand anything”.
The Israeli newspaper attributed Ben-Gvir’s dissatisfaction with Smotrich to a statement the latter made to journalists a few days ago, in which he criticized Ben-Gvir’s demand to double the National Security Ministry’s budget to 20 billion shekels ($5.4 billion).
Smotrich considered that Ben-Gvir is demanding to double his ministry’s budget without achieving any results.
On the same context, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that an argument between Ben-Gvir and Smotrich took place in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office last September.
Yedioth Ahronoth added at the time that the argument ended in a fight and exchanging blame, explaining that during the meeting with Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir presented a plan to build 5,000 new detention places, and demanded a special budget for the project, however Smotrich shouted at him, demanding that he use the money in his ministry first before requesting a new budget.
The current dispute between Smotrich and Ben-Gvir comes despite both of them belonging to far-right parties; the former leads the “Religious Zionism” party, and the latter leads the “Jewish Power” party.
Both parties adopt extremist policies, including hostility towards Arabs and Palestinians, and the promotion of Israeli settlement in the occupied territories.
In recent months, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have taken hardline positions, including refusing to stop the genocide in Gaza, calling for the starvation of the Palestinians in the Strip, taking measures to annex the occupied West Bank, and reducing the rights of Palestinian prisoners.
