Netanyahu: My government will not 'rule by Talmud'

Speaking on Bari Weiss’s “Common Sense” podcast, Mr Netanahu said: “The main policy or the overriding policy of the government is determined by the Likud party and frankly, by me. I think I have more than a modest influence on it,

“This Israel is not going to be governed by Talmudic law,” Mr Netanyahu added.

“We’re not going to ban LGBT forums. As you know, my view on that is sharply different, to put it mildly. We’re going to remain a country of laws.”

Another concerning figure is Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich who has in the past said that he wishes to see Israel governed by Jewish law.

Mr Smotrich had previously stated that he wished to be appointed defence minister, but Mr Netanyahu now insists the position of defence minister will stay within his Likud party.

Mr Netanyahu said: “That’s a red line. Defence is in our hands. Defence is not merely what you think it is. It’s not merely preventing incoming missions. It’s also deciding on policies that could be quite inflammatory. I’m trying to avoid that,”

Mr Netanyahu recently appointed openly homophonic ultra-nationalist Avi Maoz as a deputy minister to run a “Jewish identity” authority. 

Mr Maoz is party leader of Noam, a religious-nationalist, anti-Arab and anti-LGBT party that argues for a strict interpretation of Jewish religious laws in Israel.

Mr Maoz has in the past said LGBT people posed a threat to the family and that he wanted to “cancel” Israel’s gay pride parades. 

Outgoing prime minister Yair Lapid described Mr Netanyahu’s alliance with Mr Maoz as “full-on crazy”.