Who is Israel’s far-right, pro-settler Security Minister Ben-Gvir?
1 year, 3 months ago

Who is Israel’s far-right, pro-settler Security Minister Ben-Gvir?

Al Jazeera  

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has gone from being a fringe, Palestinian-hating, religious far-right provocateur to holding a key position in the Israeli government. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has said “The right of me, my wife and kids to travel around the West Bank is more important than that of the Arabs.” This is an open admission of the discriminatory logic that underlies Israel’s apartheid. Israel’s national security minister: “The right of me, my wife and kids to travel around the West Bank is more important than that of the Arabs. https://t.co/jClPkURcCZ — Ben Reiff August 23, 2023 Ahmad Tibi, a Palestinian-Israeli member of Knesset, said: “For the first time, an Israeli minister admits on air that Israel enforces an apartheid regime, based on Jewish supremacy.” Hansen Majadli, a Palestinian editor and columnist at the Israeli daily Haaretz, berated Ben-Gvir’s “laziness”.

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History of this topic

Foreign Secretary David Lammy blasts Israeli minister over 'deliberately provocative' visit to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque as Britain joins international condemnation of hardliner Itamar Ben-Gvir
4 months, 1 week ago

Foreign Secretary David Lammy blasts Israeli minister over 'deliberately provocative' visit to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque as Britain joins international condemnation of hardliner Itamar Ben-Gvir

Daily Mail  

The Foreign Secretary today criticised a 'deliberately provocative' visit by an Israeli minister to Jerusalem's most-contested holy site. David Lammy spoke out against Itamar Ben-Gvir's actions in making a trip to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound - known to Jews as Temple Mount - yesterday. He added Britain's voice to international condemnation of the Israeli national security minister during a time …

Israeli Minister visits Al-Aqsa Mosque risking Gaza truce talks
5 months ago

Israeli Minister visits Al-Aqsa Mosque risking Gaza truce talks

The Hindu  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to troops in southern Gaza on July 18, his office said, just days before he was set to give a speech to the U.S. Congress. Mr. Netanyahu’s visit to the southern city of Rafah was announced hours after Israel’s far-right national Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. …

Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right minister who visited a contested Jerusalem holy site?
5 months, 1 week ago

Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right minister who visited a contested Jerusalem holy site?

Associated Press  

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday, a move that could threaten the delicate Gaza cease-fire talks. Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader, said he had gone up to the contested Jerusalem hilltop compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray for the return of the hostages “but without a …

Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir makes inflammatory Al-Aqsa visit
5 months, 1 week ago

Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir makes inflammatory Al-Aqsa visit

Al Jazeera  

Israel’s security minister toured a courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in a provocative move that could threaten ceasefire talks. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City. Tensions over the site in occupied East Jerusalem have fuelled past rounds of Israeli-Palestinian violence, and Ben-Gvir’s visit on Thursday threatens to …

Israel minister demands West Bank annexation if UN court rules against it
5 months, 1 week ago

Israel minister demands West Bank annexation if UN court rules against it

Al Jazeera  

PM Netanyahu must order annexation of the West Bank if the International Court of Justice rules Israeli occupation is illegal, far-right minister says. Hardline Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the prime minister to annex the occupied West Bank if the International Court of Justice rules Israeli settlements are illegal this week. Last month, Israel’s hardline coalition government approved …

Far-right minister who visited contested Jerusalem site has long history of controversy
7 months ago

Far-right minister who visited contested Jerusalem site has long history of controversy

Associated Press  

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Wednesday in what he described as a protest against the recognition of a Palestinian state by three European countries. Two years later, Ben-Gvir took responsibility for orchestrating a campaign of protests, including death threats, that forced Irish singer Sinead O’Connor to cancel …

US sanctions on Israeli settlers have sparked accusations of anti-Semitism — and cracked open a long-running international debate
10 months, 2 weeks ago

US sanctions on Israeli settlers have sparked accusations of anti-Semitism — and cracked open a long-running international debate

ABC  

Settlers: It's a word that the White House has focused heavily on over the last week and one which provokes a visceral response from the Israeli government. So strong is the pushback to any criticism of settlers that Israel's influential finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, this week accused US President Joe Biden of engaging in an "anti-Semitic lie". US government imposes …

Israeli minister proposes post-war plan for Gaza as government divisions burst out into open
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Israeli minister proposes post-war plan for Gaza as government divisions burst out into open

CNN  

Tel Aviv and Jerusalem CNN — Rifts in the Israeli government emerged publicly on Friday as members of the cabinet argued over plans for the post-war future of Gaza and how to handle investigations into the security failings around Hamas’ October 7 attacks. In northern Gaza, he said the Israel Defense Forces’ campaign would encompass “raids, the destruction of terror …

Israel’s finance minister now governs the West Bank. Critics see steps toward permanent control
1 year, 3 months ago

Israel’s finance minister now governs the West Bank. Critics see steps toward permanent control

Associated Press  

ASA’EL, West Bank — With attention focused on its contentious judicial overhaul, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has quietly taken unprecedented steps toward cementing Israel’s control over the occupied West Bank — perhaps permanently. “If Smotrich keeps this position for four years we will be at a point of no return,” said Ilan Paz, former head of Israel’s Civil Administration, …

Israel’s finance minister now governs West Bank. Critics see path to permanent control
1 year, 3 months ago

Israel’s finance minister now governs West Bank. Critics see path to permanent control

LA Times  

Campaign posters for far-right Israeli lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich, now finance minister, are strung across a road sign near the West Bank city of Nablus. With attention focused on its contentious judicial overhaul, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has quietly taken unprecedented steps toward cementing Israel’s control over the occupied West Bank — perhaps permanently. “If Smotrich keeps this position for …

Former leaders of Israel’s security services are speaking out against Netanyahu’s policies
1 year, 3 months ago

Former leaders of Israel’s security services are speaking out against Netanyahu’s policies

Associated Press  

HERZLIYA, Israel — They contended with bloody uprisings, destabilizing wars and even the assassination of a prime minister during their service. But for dozens of former Israeli security commanders, the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government are the biggest threat yet to the country’s future. In unprecedented opposition, more than 180 former senior officials from the Mossad, the …

Ben-Gvir says Israeli rights trump Palestinian freedom of movement
1 year, 4 months ago

Ben-Gvir says Israeli rights trump Palestinian freedom of movement

Al Jazeera  

Minister’s comments slammed online, seen as an open admittance of Israeli apartheid. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has openly admitted that his right to move around unimpeded is superior to the freedom of movement for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, sparking outrage. Directly addressing journalist Mohammad Magadli, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, Ben-Gvir said, “Sorry, …

Road to normalising ties with Saudi Arabia ‘still long’: Israeli official
1 year, 4 months ago

Road to normalising ties with Saudi Arabia ‘still long’: Israeli official

Al Jazeera  

Members of Israel’s hard-right government have ruled out concessions to Palestinians as part of any deal with Riyadh. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s national security adviser says the road to normalising ties with Saudi Arabia is “still long” as members of his far-right government rule out concessions to Palestinians as part of any deal. “I can identify with what the …

Israel far-right minister visits Al-Aqsa compound
1 year, 7 months ago

Israel far-right minister visits Al-Aqsa compound

Al Jazeera  

Visit by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir comes days after thousands of Jewish nationalists marched through Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem and declared Israel “in charge”, drawing condemnation from Palestinians after months of escalating tension and violence. A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas …

Israeli settlers march to occupied West Bank outpost
1 year, 8 months ago

Israeli settlers march to occupied West Bank outpost

Al Jazeera  

Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven cabinet ministers marched to Evyatar, an illegal settlement outpost in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank that was evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir – both settlers in the occupied West Bank – and at least 20 members of the Knesset …

Analysis: Why does Israel’s Ben-Gvir want a ‘national guard’?
1 year, 8 months ago

Analysis: Why does Israel’s Ben-Gvir want a ‘national guard’?

Al Jazeera  

Palestinians and Israeli opposition worry about formation of an armed force directly under the far-right minister’s control. The conclusion of this is that the moment there are protests against the state, this will be the force that will send people home.” For Rafi Reznik, a postdoctoral fellow at Jerusalem’s Van Leer Institute, the national guard may be a response to …

Israeli cabinet approves Ben-Gvir’s ‘national guard’ plan
1 year, 8 months ago

Israeli cabinet approves Ben-Gvir’s ‘national guard’ plan

Al Jazeera  

Critics warn the far-right security minister could use the 2,000-strong force specifically against anti-government demonstrators and Palestinian citizens of Israel. The Israeli cabinet has authorised plans for a controversial “national guard” sought by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to deal with unrest in Palestinian communities in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday that the cabinet approved …

Arab states condemn Israeli minister’s ‘no Palestinians’ remark
1 year, 9 months ago

Arab states condemn Israeli minister’s ‘no Palestinians’ remark

Al Jazeera  

The Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan have condemned as “racist” a firebrand Israeli minister’s remarks denying the existence of the Palestinian people, with Amman summoning Israel’s ambassador for a rebuke. Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said before a cabinet meeting on Monday the “inflammatory statements” made by Smotrich provided “conclusive evidence of the extremist, racist Zionist ideology … of …

Israel’s outgoing army chief rebukes far-right government
1 year, 11 months ago

Israel’s outgoing army chief rebukes far-right government

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Israel’s outgoing army chief on Friday warned against plans by Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition to grant more control to pro-settler lawmakers and make other changes to the Israeli security establishment, joining a loud chorus of criticism against the most right-wing government in the country’s history. In several interviews with Israeli news outlets just days before he steps down, …

Arab nations condemn Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem
1 year, 11 months ago

Arab nations condemn Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem

ABC  

Israel's far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has briefly visited the compound that houses the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, a move condemned by Palestinians as provocative and despite warnings it could lead to violence. Key points: A picture on Itamar Ben-Gvir's Twitter account showed him strolling at the periphery of the compound The Palestinian foreign ministry strongly condemned Mr Ben-Gvir's …

Far-right Ben-Gvir to be Israel’s national security minister
2 years ago

Far-right Ben-Gvir to be Israel’s national security minister

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Extremist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a long record of anti-Arab rhetoric and stunts, will become Israel’s next minister of national security, according to the first of what are expected to be several coalition deals struck by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. Ahead of Israel’s Nov. 1 election, Ben-Gvir grabbed headlines for his anti-Palestinian speeches and …

Far-right Ben-Gvir to be Israel's National Security Minister
2 years ago

Far-right Ben-Gvir to be Israel's National Security Minister

The Hindu  

Extremist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a long record of anti-Arab rhetoric and stunts, will become Israel's next Minister of National Security, according to the first of what are expected to be several coalition deals struck by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. Ahead of Israel's November 1 election, Mr. Ben-Gvir grabbed headlines for his anti-Palestinian speeches and stunts, …

Far-right Ben-Gvir to be police minister in Israeli gov’t
2 years, 1 month ago

Far-right Ben-Gvir to be police minister in Israeli gov’t

Al Jazeera  

The deal will give considerable power to a figure known for his anti-Palestinian views. Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party has signed its first coalition deal with the far-right Jewish Power party, giving ultranationalist leader Itamar Ben-Gvir the police ministry and a seat in the security cabinet. Under the terms of the deal, Ben-Gvir – who until last …

Far-right Jewish nationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir to be Israel’s national security minister
2 years, 1 month ago

Far-right Jewish nationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir to be Israel’s national security minister

LA Times  

Far-right Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives at the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Extremist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a long record of anti-Arab rhetoric and stunts, has been promised the post of national security minister in Israel’s new government under terms of the first of what are expected to be several coalition …

Itamar Ben-Gvir | The rabble-rouser
2 years, 1 month ago

Itamar Ben-Gvir | The rabble-rouser

The Hindu  

November 20, 2022 12:52 am | Updated 05:58 pm IST In 1995, he stole the Cadillac emblem from the car of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the Labour leader who signed the Oslo Accord with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat two years earlier. But in the March 2021 election, Mr. Ben-Gvir joined hands with the National Union’s Bezalel Smotrich to form the …

Israel’s Netanyahu agrees to legalise West Bank settler outposts
2 years, 1 month ago

Israel’s Netanyahu agrees to legalise West Bank settler outposts

Al Jazeera  

Incoming Israeli PM promises far-right ally Ben Gvir that illegal settler outposts will be legalised in the new government’s first 60 days. Ramallah, occupied West Bank – Benjamin Netanyahu, currently tasked with forming a new Israeli government after his coalition won elections earlier this month, has pledged to legalise dozens of illegal settler outposts in the occupied West Bank, after …

Israel’s far-right kingmaker joins memorial for racist rabbi
2 years, 1 month ago

Israel’s far-right kingmaker joins memorial for racist rabbi

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — A far-right Israeli lawmaker, whose surging popularity helped propel former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to power in last week’s general election, delivered a glowing tribute Thursday at a memorial event for an extremist rabbi assassinated in 1990. “We urge all parties to maintain calm, exercise restraint, and to refrain from actions that only serve to exacerbate tensions …

World is worried about far-right Ben-Gvir: Israeli president
2 years, 1 month ago

World is worried about far-right Ben-Gvir: Israeli president

Al Jazeera  

Last week’s Israeli election means that far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir is set to join Netanyahu’s new government. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been caught saying that “the whole world is worried” about newly elected lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir’s far-right positions. Ben-Gvir, who leads the far-right Jewish Power party, is expected to be in former PM Netanyahu’s new government following the victory …

Far-right Ben-Gvir emerges as key player in Israel
2 years, 1 month ago

Far-right Ben-Gvir emerges as key player in Israel

Al Jazeera  

As Israel faces its fifth poll in less than four years, uncertainty and rising tension are boosting support for the notorious politician. A settler in Kiryat Araba, one of the most radical settlements in the occupied West Bank, Ben-Gvir has been convicted of incitement to racism, destroying property, possessing a “terror” organisation’s propaganda material and supporting a “terror” organisation – …

Extremist lawmaker surges ahead of elections in Israel
2 years, 3 months ago

Extremist lawmaker surges ahead of elections in Israel

Associated Press  

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir calls his Arab colleagues “terrorists.” He wants to deport his political opponents, and in his youth, his views were so extreme that the army banned him from compulsory military service. “Over the last year I’ve been on a mission to save Israel,” Ben-Gvir recently told reporters. Ben-Gvir, for instance, calls Kahane “righteous …

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