Ben Gvir overruled by cabinet: No change in security prisoners conditions for now

National security minister had planned to worsen prison conditions for terrorist inmates

Israel’s security cabinet on Tuesday decided not to harshen the conditions of the security inmates in Israel’s prison, overruling National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s earlier decision, Israeli media reported.

The security cabinet held a special situational assessment with the nation's security services in preparation for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays, during which they approved “the operational deployment of all security services ahead of the holidays” and a heightened alert status.

The cabinet also decided to meet in October to discuss current conditions for security prisoners and confirmed that there would be no changes made until then.

The term security prisoners generally refers to inmates who are jailed because of terrorist activities.

Two weeks ago, the leaders of the so-called security prisoners announced that they would go on a hunger strike on Sept. 14, just one day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.

The announcement came in response to what they claim has been a harshening of their conditions at the direction of Ben Gvir.

“In light of the discussion in the cabinet, they understand that the issue of the visits has been postponed, and this has taken some of the sting out of a general strike,” security officials told Israel Hayom news outlet.

Ben Gvir planned to reduce family visitation rights for Palestinian security prisoners from once a month to once every two months and demanded these measures go into effect immediately.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) then released a statement calling the reported change “fake news,” to which Ben Gvir’s office responded that the decision had, indeed, been made between the minister and the director of the prison service.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ben Gvir have been at odds numerous times in recent months, most recently when Netanyahu intended to present an agreement with the opposition regarding the judicial reform. Ben Gvir reportedly responded by saying he was against “surrender.”