Jerusalem Day: The Circus of Sovereignty

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the modern-day jester of Jerusalem, with his theatrical arrogance and inflammatory rhetoric, stands before the Damascus Gate like a false emperor, proclaiming with the intensity of a cheap salesman that Jerusalem, the Damascus Gate, and the Temple Mount belong to the Jews. As if his words, spewed with the fury of a clumsy puppeteer, could rewrite history or erase centuries of multicultural coexistence.

Ben-Gvir, a character straight out of a poorly written tragicomedy, believes that by repeating “it’s ours” with the insistence of a parrot, he can turn desire into reality. His declaration is an empty spectacle, a pathetic attempt to assert a dominion that exists only in his fevered mind. Saying that “Jews entered the Old City and moved freely” is a half-truth, a distorted narrative to feed his inflated ego and petty political ambitions.

This is the man who, with a condescending smile and a look of superiority, ignores the complexities and pains of a city sacred to many. His vision of Jerusalem is as limited as his understanding of coexistence and respect. He speaks of freedom for one group while sowing the seeds of oppression for another, a cowardly act disguised as bravery.

Ben-Gvir, with his inflammatory speech, is not a leader; he is an arsonist, throwing fuel on the flames of an already volatile situation. His “we” is a division, a wall erected against the possibility of peace. His “we” is a barrier of ignorance and intolerance, a denial of others’ right to exist and cohabit.

His comments on Jerusalem Day are not declarations of strength but of weakness. A true leader seeks unity, understanding, and reconciliation. Ben-Gvir, however, is content to sow hatred and division, inflame tensions, and perpetuate conflict.

He sees himself as a defender of Jerusalem, but in reality, he is one of the most significant obstacles to peace. His words are not of ownership but of wrongful possession. His vision is not of leadership but of tyranny. And in the end, his belligerent stance and fiery speeches do nothing but push us all closer to an abyss from which it won’t be easy to return.

 n his “we,” I do not want to be. I refuse to be part of a narrow and oppressive vision that ignores the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that make Jerusalem unique. The true Jerusalem – the city of all, rich in its diversity and history – continues to wait for leaders who understand that real strength comes from unity, not division. That true peace is achieved through mutual respect and not blatant arrogance. And that Jerusalem, in all its complexity and beauty, deserves much more than the empty bravado of a demagogue.