Itamar Ben-Gvir
Israeli national security minister, convicted in 2007 of incitement to racism, who has spoken of a "settlement plan for Lebanon"
| Itamar Ben-Gvir
| |
|---|---|
| Image | .jpg)
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| Born | 6 May 1976 Mevaseret Zion, Israel[1] |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Residence | Kiryat Arba, occupied West Bank[1] |
| Occupation | Minister for National Security |
| Known for | 2007 conviction for incitement to racism and support for a terrorist organisation; call for settlement in Lebanon |
Itamar Ben-Gvir (born 6 May 1976) is an Israeli politician and Minister for National Security.[2] He lives in the settlement of Kiryat Arba in the occupied West Bank.[1] In 2007 a Jerusalem court convicted him of incitement to racism and of supporting a terrorist organisation.[3] In May 2026 he said that the government had a "settlement plan for Lebanon".[4]
Lebanon
On 14 May 2026, at a Jerusalem Day event in a yeshiva attended by Bezalel Smotrich, Ben-Gvir said: "We have more plans to encourage migration from Gaza, encourage migration from Judea and Samaria, and settlement in Lebanon".[5] L'Orient Today reported that he spoke of a "settlement plan for Lebanon" while talks between the two countries were under way, called for the annexation of the whole West Bank, and declared: "All the Land of Israel belongs to us." The paper noted that Israeli authorities "officially claim not to have expansionist aims in southern Lebanon".[4] A member of the Uri Tzafon settlement campaign showed AFP a certificate of appreciation for Gaza settlement activists signed by Ben-Gvir.[6]
2007 conviction
On 25 June 2007 the Jerusalem Magistrates Court convicted Ben-Gvir of incitement to racism, for carrying a sign reading "Expel the Arab enemy", and of supporting a terrorist organisation, for a poster reading "Rabbi Kahane was right, the Arab MKs are the fifth column". He was acquitted on two other charges. He said he would appeal and called some judges "two-faced leftists".[3] A 2008 Supreme Court decision records an indictment alleging that in 2002 he ran offices used by the banned Kach and Kahane Chai movements.[7]
Sanctions
On 10 June 2025 the UK, with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, imposed an asset freeze, travel ban and director disqualification on Ben-Gvir in his personal capacity, for "inciting, promoting and/or supporting" violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.[2]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice: Global Human Rights HM Treasury, 10 June 2025, accessed 22 October 2026 (UK government-side).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK and partners unite to sanction ministers inciting West Bank violence GOV.UK, 10 June 2025, accessed 22 October 2026 (UK government-side).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ynetnews, Extreme rightist convicted of supporting terror group Ynetnews, 25 June 2007, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 L'Orient Today, Ben Gvir discusses Israel's 'settlement plan' for south Lebanon L'Orient Today, 15 May 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Abdel Raouf Arnaout, Israeli minister announces illegal settlement plans in Lebanon, displacements in Gaza, West Bank Anadolu Agency, 15 May 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Alice Chancellor, 'Promised to us': The Israelis dreaming of settling south Lebanon Al-Monitor (AFP), 13 May 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Supreme Court of Israel, BSP 4190/07 Itamar Ben-Gvir v. State of Israel (Hebrew), 16 March 2008, accessed 22 October 2026 (Israeli government-side).