In a move seen by some as a snub to his intraparty rival, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Justice Minister Yariv Levin as Israel’s temporary acting premier while he is in Washington this week. Additionally, Foreign Minister Yisroel Katz has been authorized to convene the security cabinet if necessary during Netanyahu’s absence.
The appointments come amid public tensions between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, fueling speculation that the prime minister is seeking to assert his authority within the party.
According to Israeli law, an acting prime minister must be designated to assume duties when the leader is abroad or temporarily unable to perform their responsibilities. Levin’s appointment will ensure continuity of government during Netanyahu’s trip to the United States.
The move has sparked intrigue, with some interpreting it as a signal of Netanyahu’s distrust in Gallant, who has been seen as a potential challenger to the prime minister’s leadership. However, officials have not publicly confirmed any underlying tensions or motivations behind the appointments.
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5 Responses
Smart move you do
Not put your competition in a place he can get the lime lite.
Yariv Levin has better access to all rooms of the mossad and the shas
Yariv Levin is a centrist, well-balanced politician. He is refined, intelligent and cordial with most MK’s.
Not sure its a great idea to have someone with zero military and national security creds as “acting PM” even for a few days, when EY is in the middle of several critical military operations in Gaza, the North and now in Yemen. His only “military” experience was decades ago as an Arabic translator for the IDF.
TMK no snub. This was previously Yariv’s job. He’s 2nd to Bibi on the Likud list.