Tensions are on the rise at the Prime Minister's Office, according to a new report by Channel 12 News.
According to sources in Bennett's office and that of Foreign Minister and Prime Minister-designate Yair Lapid, Middle East analyst turned Bennett advisor Shimrit Meir has been working to diminish the influence of other individuals and is responsible for recent leaks to the media. She is also determining Bennett's political strategy, they said.
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Israel Hayom's own Jacob Bardugo recently revealed that internal relations at the country's most important bureau were deteriorating due largely to Meir's central role in the decision-making process. On Nov. 18, Bardugo wrote that the political advisor had recently become the closest figure to the premier, and according to officials, was actively working with professional teams, including the National Security Council. According to the sources, Meir was even involved in drafting statements to be delivered by Bennett's spokespeople, which were sent to her for review and approval prior to their release.
The assessment is that Meir is now involved at the political level as well.
According to Bardugo's piece, Bennett would not have greenlighted Ra'am party head Mansour Abbas's meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Amman or Meretz member and Regional Cooperation Minister Esawei Freij's attendance of a conference to raise funds for the Palestinian Authority in Oslo were it not for Meir's support for the moves.
Earlier, on Sept. 24, Bardugo revealed in Israel Hayom that veteran adviser Moshe Klughaft has also noted having less influence on the premier than he had expected given Meir's dominant role.
In a statement, Bennett's office said, "The prime minister has full confidence in his diplomatic adviser's talents and dedication. Meir is working to promote the prime minister's political work, whether by building ties with the [US President Joe] Biden administration, with the Europeans, with Egypt, Jordan, the speedy resolution to the crisis with Turkey, and others. These have been six successful months by any standards, and we are proud of them. We will note that Meir is not involved in politics."
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