Ben Gvir: A Shameful Stain to the Nation of Israel

Israel is a nation of peace. Since their inception in 1948, they have fought for its survival against nations who have sought its destruction. From the War of Independence, to the Six-Day War, to terror attacks in the Second Intifada – Israel has had to constantly defend themselves against groups in the region who want their annihilation.

Israel has gone even further than just that, they’ve also tried countless times to sign a long-term peace solution. In fact, Israel has agreed to almost every peace deal that has been formally suggested, whilst historically the Palestinians and neighboring Arab states have rejected them in their ideological pursuit of one Palestinian state from the river to the sea.

When Egypt made a peace deal with Israel in 1979, the Arab League expelled them for reneging on their famous mantra: “No peace with Israel. No recognition of Israel. No negotiations with Israel.” Yet unlike the Arab states, Israel has always been proud of their desire for long-term peace – they have been explicit about their willingness to sign a deal, only to fall deaf on the ears of their self-determined enemies.

Then comes along Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s current Minister of National Security.

Ben Gvir looks up to Baruch Goldstein, a Jewish extremist who opened fire in a mosque, killing 29 Palestinians and injuring 125; this horrific act of terror was likely done to disrupt the Oslo peace process. Instead of condemning Baruch Goldstein, Ben Gvir believes he deserves respect for murdering innocent Arabs in cold-blood, and hung his picture in his living room.

Had Ben Gvir admired Hamas, a terrorist organization which kills innocent civilians, the entirety of Israel would have erupted in outrage. Why the double standards? Where is that outrage now?

Unfortunately, Ben Gvir has only been growing in popularity. In the latest election in 2022, Ben Gvir’s coalition block, the Religious Zionist Party, won 14 seats to become the third biggest party in Israel – securing him a place in government, as the Minister of National Security.

Ben Gvir represents the rejection of Israel’s values – of peace, security, and equal rights for all, no matter their nationality, race, or religion:

• He has been convicted for possessing and distributing propaganda of a Jewish extremist terrorist organization.
• When he was previously a lawyer, he defended Jewish extremists who ruthlessly killed Palestinian civilians, 
• He supports a one state Jewish solution,
• He supports the expansion of Greater Israel (including the full annexation of the West Bank),
• He advocates for less voting rights for non-Jewish people,
• He’s tried to limit religious freedoms (of religions that aren’t Jewish).

As the Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir is, and forever will be, a shameful stain on the nation of Israel.

The unfortunate truth is that without some sort of long-term peace agreement, Ben Gvir and the policies he represents are likely to continue gaining popularity.