Itamar Ben-Gvir

Itamar Ben-Gvir, born on May sixth, nineteen seventy-six, is a prominent Israeli lawyer and politician who has held the position of Minister of National Security since two thousand twenty-two, with a brief hiatus in early two thousand twenty-five. As the leader of Otzma Yehudit, a far-right political party known for its Kahanist and anti-Arab stance, he has played a significant role in the Israeli political landscape, particularly following the party's success in the two thousand twenty-two legislative elections, where it secured six seats.

Ben-Gvir's political ideology is deeply rooted in Kahanism, a movement characterized by its extreme views and advocacy for the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands. His history of anti-Arab activism has led to numerous legal challenges, including dozens of indictments and at least eight convictions for crimes such as incitement to racism and support for a terrorist organization, specifically the now-banned Kach party. In his legal career, he has gained notoriety for defending individuals accused of Jewish extremist terrorism.

Known for his provocative actions, Ben-Gvir has made headlines for various controversial incidents, including threatening Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on live television shortly before Rabin's assassination in nineteen ninety-five. His actions have often incited tensions, such as during violent clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah in twenty twenty-one, and his contentious visits to the Temple Mount in twenty twenty-three and twenty twenty-four.

On January eighteenth, two thousand twenty-five, Ben-Gvir announced his intention to resign from his ministerial role in response to a ceasefire deal regarding the Gaza conflict, officially resigning the following day. However, just two months later, he and his party members were reinstated in the government after an agreement was reached amid ongoing airstrikes in Gaza.