Shaked demanded answers about the gestures to the Palestinians. Gantz replied: Everything we approved is only within their territory.
A verbal confrontation broke out between Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked during the meeting of the political-security cabinet on Sunday, while the ministers received an overview of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel.
According to a report in Channel 13 News, Shaked asked for clarification on the gestures given to the Palestinian Arabs during the visit and demanded answers from the Minister of Defense on the subject. The argument between the two became quite loud.
Shaked: “I would like to receive details from the Ministry of Defense about the decision to whitewash and legitimize Palestinian homes in honor of President Biden’s visit.”
Gantz: “That’s a lie, it’s simply not true. If you want to be fed by a campaign of lies, go ahead. Everything we approved is only within their territory, there is no whitewashing here. But if you are already talking – then just a few weeks ago we approved ago 4,000 housing units for Jews in Judea and Samaria.”
Shaked: “If so, then there is a disinformation on this issue.”
Gantz: “I have nothing more to explain. I said exactly what the decision says.”
The offices of Defense Minister Gantz and Interior Minister Shaked stated that they do not comment on the political-security cabinet discussions.
Sunday’s discussion was the first discussion of the political-security cabinet during Yair Lapid’s tenure as Prime Minister. The meeting was held in the wake of the events that took place over the weekend in southern Israel, which included the firing of four rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. During the meeting, security sources provided a review of Hamas targets that Israel attacked in retaliation for the rocket fire.
I honestly hope that Israeli security is not so porous as to permit the comments, even the elevated shoutings, to be so easily distributed to the press. Such political ‘leaks’ always harbor a political purpose and too frequently surround Shaked, as I previously noted.