Jerusalem, 15 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a conference in Acre that, if he forms the next government, the Defense Ministry and the National Security Ministry will remain in Likud hands. His statement challenges National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s declared intention to demand the Defense Ministry in the next coalition.
Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party responded angrily, accusing Netanyahu of planning to exclude the party from the next government and bring in former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot instead.
The party said Netanyahu’s remarks about keeping the Defense, National Security and Justice ministries under Likud control reinforced its conclusion that a political decision had been made to remove Ben Gvir and his party from the coalition and award the portfolios to the left. Netanyahu’s comments add a new point of contention between Likud and its right-wing partner ahead of the October 27 election.
