Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security, resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet in protest against the Gaza ceasefire deal signed between Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Israeli government.
His resignation, alongside two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party, Otzma Yehudit, is indicative of tensions within the coalition government led by Netanyahu.
The party criticised the ceasefire deal as a “capitulation to Hamas” and condemned the “release of hundreds of murderers” and claimed it undermined the Israeli military’s achievements in Gaza.
Despite the resignation, Netanyahu retains a slim majority in the Israeli parliament. While the Otzma Yehudit party is no longer part of the ruling coalition, it has said it will not seek to bring down Netanyahu’s government.
Political career
Born on May 6, 1976, in Mevaseret Zion, Israel, Itamar Ben-Gvir is a lawyer and a leader of the far-right political party Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit). Known for his ultranationalist views, Ben-Gvir has been a polarising figure in Israeli politics, particularly for his inflammatory rhetoric against Palestinians and his connection to the extremist ideology of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane.
Ben-Gvir first came into the public eye as a teenager when he stole the emblem from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s car, an act that foreshadowed Rabin’s assassination weeks later. Over the years, he has faced multiple convictions for incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organisation, contributing to his exemption from military service due to concerns about his extremist views.
Rise to power
Ben-Gvir’s political rise accelerated when he was elected to the Knesset in 2021. As a prominent figure within right-wing coalitions, he became Israel’s Minister of National Security in 2022.
His tenure has been marked by controversial policies such as relaxing gun ownership laws, promoting armed neighborhood watches in settlements, and accusations of politicizing the police force to target left-wing activists while downplaying violence against Palestinians.
(With inputs from Arab News, ABC News, Al Jazeera)
Discover the Benefits of Our Subscription!
Stay informed with access to our award-winning journalism.
Avoid misinformation with trusted, accurate reporting.
Make smarter decisions with insights that matter.
Choose your subscription package
