Unusual Confrontation between Israeli Ministers about Transfer of Equipment to Palestinian Authority
In a surprising turn of events, Defense Minister Yoav Galant expressed his discontent with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gabir during a recent discussion regarding the transfer of equipment to the Palestinian Authority. Galant called on senior army officers not to answer Ben Gabir’s questions, accusing him of defiance.
According to a report from News 13, tensions arose when Galant labeled Ben Gabir’s questions as “defiant and irrelevant.” Refusing to answer him, Galant urged others to follow suit, stating, “Don’t answer Ben Gabir.”
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly came to Ben Gabir’s defense and condemned Galant’s behavior. Netanyahu emphasized that every minister in the cabinet, including Ben Gabir, deserved to be answered by the security establishment.
This clash between ministers comes in the wake of a media-political storm that erupted three weeks ago. The controversy began with a publication in the newspaper ‘Al-Quds’ alleging that the Israeli government had approved the transfer of military equipment, including weapons and armored personnel carriers, to the Palestinian Authority.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Ben Gabir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit, convened a meeting following the announcement. They demanded clarification and a denial from Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that such transfers would be a red line for them.
In response to the outrage, Defense Minister Galant was compelled to issue a denial. He stated, “Contrary to the false representation emerging from the various reports, since I assumed office, no transfer of lethal weapons or weapons to the Palestinian Authority has been approved. Any attempt to present things differently is false.”
The situation escalated further when a senior government official implied that ammunition could be transferred to the Palestinian Authority if deemed necessary. Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the claims with a video denying them, asserting that they were “fake news.” Defense Minister Galant also denied the allegations, questioning whether the cause behind them was truly security-related or if those making the claims were simply not senior enough.
The disagreement between Galant and Ben Gabir highlights the tense discussions surrounding the transfer of equipment to the Palestinian Authority. With both sides refusing to back down, it remains to be seen how this confrontation will impact future decisions regarding security measures and cooperation between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.