In his cabinet post, Ben-Gvir oversaw the country’s police force. He used his influence to encourage Netanyahu to press ahead with the war in Gaza and recently boasted that he had blocked past efforts to reach a ceasefire. As national security minister, he has encouraged police to take a tough line against anti-government protesters. Controversial minister Ben-Gvir, who lives in the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba in the West Bank, secured his cabinet post after the 2022 elections that put Netanyahu and his far-right partners,
including Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party, into power. “Over the last year I’ve been on a mission to save Israel,” Ben-Gvir told reporters before that election. “Millions of citizens are waiting for a real right-wing government. The time has come to give them one.” Ben-Gvir has been a magnet of controversy throughout his tenure – encouraging the mass distribution of handguns to Jewish citizens, backing Netanyahu’s contentious attempt to overhaul the country’s legal system and frequently lashing out at US leaders for perceived slights against Israel.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Jewish Power, Kiryat Arba, West Bank settlement, Israel police, national security minister, anti-government protesters, war in Gaza, ceasefire, Netanyahu, legal system overhaul, handgun distribution, US leaders
Wow so he’s basically controlling the police? That’s insane.
I can’t believe he “blocked” a ceasefire like that. Like who does that?? Also handguns for Jewish citizens… are we sure that’s legal??
Wait but wasn’t the police chief already set up before him? Sounds like people are acting like one guy can just decide war stuff and also protest stuff. But maybe it’s like overblown? Idk, the article lost me halfway, I just saw the word ceasefire and got mad.
Ben-Gvir lives in that Kiryat Arba place right, like that’s already sketchy so of course he wants harder lines. And the US lashing out part… not surprised, we always get “slighted” and then everyone acts like it’s about respect. I just don’t see how “real right-wing government” helps anyone over there, feels like more violence is the plan.