From Davide FRATTINI
Itamar Ben-Gvir is one of the most controversial and extremist figures in Israeli politics and currently holds the position of Minister of National Security in the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. He is known for his nationalist positions, harsh rhetoric against the Palestinians, and his early connections with Jewish far-right currents. From a young age, Ben-Gvir identified as a supporter of the ideology of radical rabbi Meir Kahane, who had a harsh rhetoric against Arabs and Palestinians. In the 1990s, he became known in public for provocative statements and actions, at a time when political tensions and violence were very high in Israel.
At the same time, the political climate in the country deteriorated, culminating in the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 by Yigal Amir, which marked the end of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In this situation, radical figures like Ben-Gvir also became more visible on the public stage.
Today, Ben-Gvir advocates strong ideas such as annexing the West Bank and returning Israeli settlements to the Gaza Strip, which were evacuated in 2005. He is often criticized for provocative behavior, including times when he has carried weapons in public or been involved in physical clashes with Palestinians and Arab residents in Jerusalem. As security minister, he controls the police and public order, which has given him great institutional influence. However, many opponents inside and outside Israel accuse him of inciting tensions and worsening the security situation.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Netanyahu has chosen to keep Ben-Gvir in the government as part of a fragile political coalition, where the support of the far right is necessary for a parliamentary majority. This has created a pragmatic relationship: even when there is public criticism of him, he often remains outside the criticism, due to political balances.
According to political experts, this situation shows a paradox of the current Israeli government: on the one hand, it verbally distances itself from the minister’s most extreme actions, while on the other hand, it depends politically on him to stay in power. In this way, Ben-Gvir is seen as a symbol of the shift of Israeli politics more towards the far right, increasing tensions with the Palestinians and influencing the internal debate on security, democracy and the future of the peace process. (Corriere della Sera)