In comments that sent shockwaves through the political system Friday, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party accused the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security service of “working for terrorists,” drawing widespread rebuke.
MK Tally Gotliv made the claim while coming to the defense of ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who tussled Friday with Netanyahu over government policy toward Palestinian security prisoners. Ben Gvir insisted new rules limiting family visits to once every two months were now in effect, while Netanyahu said no such decision had been made.
Ben Gvir’s push to tighten the screws on prisoners was met with resistance by the Shin Bet, IDF and Israel Prison Service, which have cautioned the move could exacerbate the prevailing tense security environment.
Palestinian security prisoners declared on Friday their intention to start a hunger strike in protest of the new restrictions, according to Hebrew media reports. The prisoners indicated that the strike would commence on September 14.
“It’s good to know that the Shin Bet and the IDF are working for the terrorists and security prisoners. The entire deep state is against Minister Ben Gvir,” Gotliv charged in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Good on you Itamar for championing right-wing sovereignty,” she continued. “If limiting the rights of murderous terrorists will harm security in the eyes of the Shin Bet and IDF, then something is very wrong here.”
Her comments were denounced by Netanyahu’s office, which called them “outrageous.” The Prime Minister’s Office also hailed security forces’ efforts for national security and stressed that Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and all security chiefs were “united in their efforts to maintain national security.”
Gallant also called Gotliv’s statements “grave” and compared them to “stomping on the national flag,” while urging her to “apologize immediately.”
Illustrative: Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu with head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party MK Itamar Ben Gvir at a vote in the Knesset plenum, December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
But Gotliv remained defiant, saying she would “not be sad” if security prisoners who are reportedly planning to go on hunger strike were to die.
“I am shocked to discover that terrorist security prisoners are causing the government to put out such a sycophantic statement, because nothing has yet been decided regarding the conditions of their imprisonment,” she railed in a follow-up post on X.
Gotliv has been a regular source of headaches for the premier with her outspoken remarks, and was recently responsible for an embarrassing coalition vote loss in parliament after she refused to toe the party line.
Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer of the far-right Religious Zionism also denounced Gotliv’s comments, lamenting “the nadir Knesset members have reached” while expressing support for the security forces, as did opposition figures.
“To hint that the Shin Bet and IDF work for terrorists? Shame on you, you are a failed government without an ounce of self-respect,” railed Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky.
National Unity MK Matan Kahana called for Netanyahu to rein in his coalition.
“When you were in the opposition, you blamed government ministers for the murderous terror. Now you are in the government, you’ve moved to blaming the security forces?!!” Kahana wrote on X. “Stop the incitement, take responsibility.”
Gotliv’s initial remarks came after Netanyahu and Ben Gvir publicly sparred, with the premier’s office calling his announcement of the new policy on prisoners “fake news,” and saying no action would be taken before a special security assessment on the matter is held next week.
Ben Gvir’s office said in response that his decision would be carried out. But Kan news reported that the National Security Council had instructed the relevant authorities not to follow the minister’s instructions until the prime minister holds meetings on the matter.
Illustrative image of security prisoners in the Ofer Prison facility near Ramallah, August 20, 2008. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)
Though Ben Gvir is ostensibly charged with internal security, Netanyahu is widely seen as distrusting his far-right police minister and has often been reported to be keeping him out of key discussions with top security officials.
Among his hardline political positions, Ben Gvir has often spoken out against providing Palestinians convicted of terror-related offenses with what he says are overly comfortable conditions. He has also said he will propose legislation to allow for the death penalty for certain terror offenses.
Earlier this year he sought to crack down on shower times and instructed the removal of ovens used to bake pitas. The latter earned him the derisive nickname of “the pita minister” by members of the opposition, who contended he was focusing on public relations rather than substantive policies.
And this week saw a law championed by Ben Gvir enter into effect that bans the early release of prisoners sentenced for light security offenses. Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has reportedly expressed concern that the new policy will lead to overcrowding in prisons.
Last month Palestinian prisoners threatened a hunger strike over authorities’ policies in prisons, including the transfers of various prisoners and other limitations on their living conditions, but eventually did not make good on it.
