The chairman of religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, responds to a report according to which he was blown away by the meeting with Netanyahu and the Chief of Staff, during which the transfer of powers from Defense Minister Yoav Galant to him was discussed.
In the response issued by his office, it was written, among other things: “Minister Smotrich is very careful not to involve the army in politics. The powers will be settled tonight between Minister Smotrich and the Prime Minister and Minister Gallant.”
It was also reported that “Minister Smotrich and the Chief of Staff have met several times in recent weeks and there is an open and excellent dialogue between them. Now, the Chief of Staff is bringing his professional position to the Prime Minister and it is good that this is so, immediately after that there will be a political meeting where the matter will be decided.”
Earlier this evening, Machal Shemesh reported in ‘Kan Ha’od’ that Smotrich refuses to take part in the discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Judea and Samaria’s powers – if Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi participates in it, because he is not ready for the Chief of Staff to voice the The army’s position on this issue.
It was also reported that since the Chief of Staff was already on his way to the Knesset – it was decided to hold the discussion with Halevi, without Smotrich.