Phalapoem editor, 02/02/2025
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister, is not just a controversial figure—he is a radical extremist with a history of inciting violence, racism, and terrorism. His rise to power represents the growing normalization of far-right terrorism in Israeli politics, with devastating consequences for Palestinians.
Ben Gvir was once a follower of the banned Kach party, founded by the notorious racist and terrorist Meir Kahane. Kach was outlawed in Israel and designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. for promoting Jewish supremacy and advocating for the mass expulsion of Palestinians. Ben Gvir possesses these extremist beliefs; and has built his political career on inciting hatred, racism, torture, rape and all atrocities against Palestinians including shooting them and burning their farms , shops, houses and cars.
He has repeatedly praised Baruch Goldstein, the Israeli terrorist who massacred 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron in 1994. Until recently, Ben Gvir even kept a portrait of Goldstein in his home. This alone should have disqualified him from holding any public office, yet he now oversees Israel’s police and security forces, giving him direct power over policies that oppress Palestinians.
As National Security Minister, Ben Gvir has systematically escalated Israeli aggression against Palestinians. Under his leadership:
• Increased Settler terrorism – Terrorist Israeli settlers, emboldened by his rhetoric, have carried out a surge in terrorist attacks on Palestinian villages, burning homes, destroying property, and terrorizing civilians with near-total impunity and under and often under protection of the occupation army.
• Militarization of the Police – He has expanded police crackdowns on Palestinian protests, ordering the use of excessive force, torture, take, mass arrests, and brutal raids on Palestinian neighborhoods.
• Temple Mount Provocations – His repeated visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque, a flashpoint for violence, are blatant provocations aimed at igniting further tensions. These illegal visits violate the historical status quo and fuel settler racist ambitions to take over the holy site.
• War on Palestinian captives – He has introduced harsher measures against Palestinian captives, reducing their rights, food, medication and limiting family visits, and pushing for policies that amount to collective punishment.
Ben Gvir: A Symbol of Israeli Apartheid
Ben Gvir’s terrorist ideology aligns perfectly with Israel’s apartheid policies. He openly calls for ethnic cleansing, the displacement of Palestinians, and the annexation of the West Bank. His racist rhetoric—referring to Palestinians as “terrorists” while defending settler terrorism—exposes Israel’s deep-rooted institutionalized discrimination and state terrorism.
While Israel tries to present itself as a ‘democracy’, figures like Ben Gvir prove otherwise. His presence in the government is a reminder that Israel is led by terrorists who endorse supremacist policies and justify the oppression of millions.
The Global Silence and Western Complicity
Despite Ben Gvir’s explicit racism and his association with designated terrorist groups, Western governments continue to shield Israel from accountability. If a politician with similar views were in power elsewhere, he would be condemned and sanctioned. Yet, because he is Israeli, the world remains largely silent.
The reality is clear: Ben Gvir is not just a terrorist politician—he is a direct threat to Palestinian lives, regional stability, and any hope for peace. His monstrous actions and rhetoric embolden the most terrorist elements of Israeli society, making clear that Israel’s far-right leadership is uninterested in coexistence and fully committed to terrorism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
The world must wake up to the danger this terrorist represents. Failure to do so will only enable further terrorism against the Palestinian people.