Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump cancels Putin meeting, says "didn't feel right"
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.
Lebanese MP Imad Al-Hout, following his meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Republic: Lebanon is the last country to move toward peace and normalization [with "Israel"]
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.

Ben-Gvir clashes with Smotrich over delay in judicial reform

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Dec 2024 22:57
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Bezalel Smotrich defended delaying judicial reforms until after the war and criticized Ben-Gvir for destabilizing the coalition over what he called "nonsense," stressing the importance of passing a budget to address wartime needs.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    "Israel's" Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir addresses the media as he enters a courtroom in Tel Aviv before the start of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hearing on December 10, 2024. (AP)

Tensions have erupted within the occupation's ruling coalition as Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir launched a sharp attack on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing him of obstructing efforts to revive the judicial overhaul and dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

"Smotrich's game is revealed tonight," Ben-Gvir said, calling the Israeli finance minister "a man who talks right-wing in public, but in practice saves the Attorney General from dismissal, stops judicial reform, and saves the Palestinian Authority from economic collapse."

Ben-Gvir criticized the coalition for failing to act, declaring, "We were elected to govern. There is no point in passing a state budget without firing the Attorney General."

Threats to coalition unity

Ben-Gvir's remarks follow the cancellation of a planned coalition meeting to discuss the dismissal of Baharav-Miara.

In response, Ben-Gvir threatened to vote against coalition initiatives, including the state budget. His party, Otzma Yehudit, subsequently voted against the budget in the Knesset plenum.

Related News

Trump's call to end Netanyahu trial fuels Israeli debate over pardon

'Israel's' Attorney General pressures Netanyahu to fire Ben-Gvir

Read more: 'Israel's' Attorney General pressures Netanyahu to fire Ben-Gvir

Reports suggest that Ben-Gvir is circulating a statement pushing for a cabinet no-confidence vote on the Attorney General at its weekly meeting next Sunday.

Smotrich has opposed this move, reiterating his earlier stance that the occupation's judicial overhaul should remain on hold until after the ongoing war.

Smotrich defends budget and coalition stability

Speaking to the press at the Knesset after Ben-Gvir's statements, Smotrich defended his position, saying that the coalition had managed to pass the state budget framework bill and would soon pass the budget and Arrangements Bills, "even without Ben-Gvir and his colleagues who, unfortunately for political reasons" are voting against "a good budget that addresses all the needs of the war on the front and in the rear until victory."

Smotrich also criticized Ben-Gvir's actions, stating, "It is a shame that there are those who are willing to undermine a good right-wing coalition that has the chance to make history with the Trump administration on issues ranging from Iran to the settlement of the West Bank. It is a shame to undermine the coalition because of nonsense."

Read more: US-Israeli settlers anticipate stronger support in Trump’s second term

Ben-Gvir responded to Smotrich's remarks by insisting on the importance of dismissing the attorney general.

"If my former ally joins the coalition leaders' agreement" and announces the end of his opposition to bringing a decision to fire the attorney general on Sunday, "the crisis will be able to end and Otzma Yehudit MKs will vote in favor of the budget," Ben-Gvir said.

He further tweeted, "Bezalel, dismissing the attorney general is governance, not foolishness."

  • judicial overhaul
  • Israel
  • Israeli economy
  • Bezalel Smotrich
  • Itamar Ben-Gvir
  • Gali Baharav-Miara

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
A woman with her purchased groceries walks out from an underground market, in Beijing, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Global brands in China face pressure from rising local rivals

  • Economy
  • 17 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Pro-Palestinian activists protest at Lafayette Park across from the White House to mark the approaching one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Arts and Culture

Jewish figures calls for sanctions on 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025 in London, England. (X/ @FPALondon)
Politics

FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza

Matsapha Correctional Complex is seen in Matsapha, near Mbabane, Eswatini, Thursday July 17, 2025. (AP Photo)
Politics

Cuban man deported from US to Eswatini launches hunger strike

Russia President Vladimir Putin conducts a strategic nuclear forces exercise via videoconference from the Presidential Situation Centre at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Politics

Putin oversees ICBM, cruise missile tests in strategic nuclear drill

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS