Itamar Ben-Gvir
Itamar Ben Gvir
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Who is this?
Itamar Ben-Gvir (Hebrew: אִיתָמָר בֶּן גְּבִיר [itaˈmaʁ benˈgviʁ]; born 6 May 1976) is an Israeli politician and lawyer who has served as the minister of national security since 2022, except for a two-month gap in early 2025. He is the leader of Otzma Yehudit ("Jewish Power"), an Israeli far-right, Kahanist, and anti-Arab party that won six seats in the 2022 legislative election, and is part of the thirty-seventh government of Israel. Ben-Gvir is a settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank; according to the BBC, his "political background lies in Kahanism—a violently racist movement that supports the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands". He has a long history of anti-Arab activism, leading to dozens of indictments and at least eight convictions of crimes including incitement to racism and support for, as well as possession of propaganda of, a terrorist organization (the now-illegal Kach political party). As a lawyer, he is known for defending Jews accused of Jewish extremist terrorism in Israeli courts. Ben-Gvir is known for being a provocateur and has attracted headlines for a variety of reasons: threatening Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on live television in 1995 shortly before his assassination; having had a portrait in his living room of Baruch Goldstein, a Jewish terrorist and mass murderer; calling in 2019 for the expulsion of Arab citizens of Israel who are not loyal to the state; inciting violent clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in 2021; and making highly controversial visits to the Temple Mount, where the al-Aqsa Mosque is located, in 2023 and 2024. On 18 January 2025, it was reported that Ben-Gvir intended to resign from his ministerial position in response to the approval and implementation of the three-phase Gaza war ceasefire deal. He resigned on 19 January 2025. Two months later, it was announced that he and other party members would return to the government after an agreement was reached, following the continuation of airstrikes in Gaza.
Career
- 1976Born
Trivia
- •Place of birth: Mevaseret Zion
- •Citizenship: Israel
- •Known as: lawyer, politician, minister
What happened recently
‘Shameful’: Ben Gvir denounces UN after Israel included on sexual violence blacklist
Mock hanging of Trump, Netanyahu sparks outrage from politicians, community groups
European Countries Condemn Israeli Minister Over Alleged Mistreatment of Flotilla Activists
Why France banned Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and what it means for Europe
France bans Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after ‘unspeakable’ flotilla detainee taunts
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the ultranationalist Israeli minister who was rejected by the army for his extremism - EL PAÍS English
Itamar Ben-Gvir: Israel’s far-right security minister who taunted flotilla activists and was banned from the army
Israel’s far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted videos of himself taunting bound flotilla activists, evoking accusations of abuse and condemnation — also within Israel. #dwcurrentaffairs
EU under pressure to impose sanctions on Israel's Ben-Gvir after 'unacceptable' flotilla taunts
Australians ‘safe’, but condemned Israel minister to remain, ambassador says
Once convicted of backing terror group, Israel's Itamar Ben-Gvir has a long history as provocateur
the members of the humanitarian flotilla were shot in the leg and refused to stay in israel for treatment.
Israelis have condemned Ben Ghibr's actions. There is a general fear of damaging the country's image abroad.
Israeli security minister who taunted flotilla activists has a record of extreme actions
Global outcry after Israel's national security minister posts video appearing to flaunt harsh treatment of detained activists - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
Itamar Ben-Gvir causes diplomatic storm after harassing detained flotilla activists
The Israeli Minister released a video of the detainee kneeling with his hands tied behind his knees.
Gaza flotilla activists to be deported as governments voice outrage over taunting by Israeli minister
Itamar Ben-Gvir: The controversial rise of Israel's national security minister
“Horrific” “Shocking” “Vile”···A worldwide barrage pours down on the Israeli far-right minister who habitually mocks
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