Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is sidelined after he ‘leaked a series of sensitive documents’ and ‘took illegal photos of secret briefing attendees’.
The Israeli security minister has been banned from intelligence meetings after he leaked a series of sensitive documents.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is also accused of taking illegal photos of attendees at high-level intelligence meeting. The gaffes mean Mr Ben-Gvir may have broke the very guidelines he is appointed to protect and enforce.
His actions have also led Israel’s domestic intelligence chiefs, Shin Bet, to accuse the minister of leaking information and breaching protocol such as bringing mobile phones into meetings.
Shin Bet announced last month that they would refuse to hold anymore meetings with Mr Ben-Gvir after relations between the minister and the security agency broke down following clashes in meetings.
The barring of Mr Ben-Gvir from attending intelligence briefings means the security minister will now be left in the dark on key information about national security and intelligence.
Israel’s security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured) has been banned from intelligence meetings after being accused of leaking sensitive documents and taking photos in meetings
Israel’s security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured) has been banned from intelligence meetings after being accused of leaking sensitive documents and taking photos in meetings
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) brought Mr Ben-Gvir into government as security minister in 2022. Since the October 7 attacks Netanyahu has increasingly sidelined him
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) brought Mr Ben-Gvir into government as security minister in 2022. Since the October 7 attacks Netanyahu has increasingly sidelined him
Mr Ben-Gvir during his controversial visit to the Temple Mount in January 2023. The visit was criticised internationally for stoking tension between Israelis and Palestinians
Mr Ben-Gvir during his controversial visit to the Temple Mount in January 2023. The visit was criticised internationally for stoking tension between Israelis and Palestinians
A senior Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph: ‘The biggest threat to Israel from within is Ben-Gvir. He acts within his own rules and tries to disregard everyone around him, in spite of his not having any background in national security and defence issues himself. He is a liability.’
The decision comes as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins today with tension between Israelis and Palestinians expected to rise.
Last week, Hamas called on all Palestinian to march on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque which has been a flashpoint for Jews and Muslims for decades.
Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir attempted to push through legislation to limit the number of worshippers who can visit the compound which surrounds the mosque. However, Israel’s war cabinet banned his plans.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has increasingly sidelined Mr Ben-Nvir since the October 7 attacks despite him being one of the most prominent members of his right-wing coalition.
Mr Ben-Nvir has become one of the most controversial figures in Israeli politics. In the past, he has faced charges of hate speech against arabs and was also convicted for supporting Kach, an Israeli terrorist group which was banned in 1994.
In 2022 he joined Netanyahu’s government as security minister and has continued to court controversy. This includes a high profile visit to the Temple Mount in January 2023 which was criticised internationally for stoking tension between Israelis and Palestinians.
