Latest news with #OtzmaYehudit
Middle East Eye
13-07-2025
- Business
- Middle East Eye
Report: Netanyahu summons Ben-Gvir, Smotrich for talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has summoned far-right Finance Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to discuss the possible ceasefire deal in Gaza, according to Israel's Channel 12. The ministers are the most prominent opposers of a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of the captives and the end of the Gaza war. Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported that Netanyahu believes that Ben Gvir's far-right Otzma Yehudit party may leave the government if a permanent ceasefire is reached. The prime minister is aiming to maintain his coalition's stability by convincing the ministers that a deal would not leave Hamas in power in Gaza, the report said.
Days of Palestine
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Hamas: Ben-Gvir inciting 'religious war' after Al-Aqsa Mosque storming
DaysofPal – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday morning under heavy security protection, drawing sharp condemnation from Palestinian authorities and international observers. Local sources reported that more than 100 Israeli police officers were deployed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa to secure Ben-Gvir's entry, which occurred alongside a group of settlers from his far-right Otzma Yehudit party. The incursion coincided with the arrival of 206 Israeli settlers who also entered the compound during the morning hours, performing religious rituals under police protection. The Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem confirmed the storming, stating that 'far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was among those who stormed the compound,' describing the move as part of a pattern of provocative visits by the minister since joining the Israeli government in 2022. During Ben-Gvir's presence in the compound, Israeli police reportedly barred Palestinian worshippers from entering, in what many observers saw as a clear attempt to assert unilateral control over the sacred site. Palestinian resistance movement Hamas strongly condemned the visit. In a statement released shortly after the incident, the group said, 'The extremist Ben-Gvir's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and his provocative tour of its courtyards, in a repeated and escalating scene, represent a challenge and contempt for the feelings of Muslims and the sanctity and status of Al-Aqsa among the Islamic nation.' The statement accused Ben-Gvir and the Israeli government of deliberately provoking religious tensions and attempting to incite a wider conflict. 'We warn against the escalation of settler incursions and the performance of Talmudic rituals within the Al-Aqsa compound.' Hamas also issued a call to action urging 'our people in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the occupied interior to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque, intensify their presence there, and confront the incursions and rampages of the settlers.' Ben-Gvir has made multiple controversial visits to the mosque compound since assuming his post, often during sensitive religious or national dates. His most recent visit before today occurred on May 26, when he entered the site to mark the anniversary of Israel's 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem. On that occasion, Ben-Gvir declared from inside the compound that 'praying and prostrating on the Temple Mount had become possible,' expressing satisfaction at the growing number of settlers entering the site. Today's storming comes just one day after the governments of Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway jointly imposed sanctions on both Ben-Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes, citing their repeated incitement to violence against Palestinians and role in fueling tensions across the occupied territories. The mosque compound houses one of Islam's most sacred sites as well as Judaism's holy Temple Mount. Shortlink for this post:
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK sanctions far-right Israeli ministers for 'inciting violence' against Palestinians
The UK has sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers over "repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities" in the occupied West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will both be banned from entering the UK and will have any assets in the UK frozen as part of the measures announced by the foreign secretary. David Lammy said Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir had "incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights". In response, Israel said: "It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures." Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have also been criticised for their stance on the war in Gaza. Both ministers oppose allowing aid into Gaza and have called for Palestinians there to be resettled outside the territory. The Foreign Office said: "As Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to suffer from severe acts of violence by extremist Israeli settlers which also undermine a future Palestinian state, the UK has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in stepping up the international response." After announcing the sanctions, Lammy said: "These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account. "We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the cabinet would meet next week to respond to what he called an "unacceptable decision". The Foreign Office added that "alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, the UK is clear that the rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank must stop". In a statement it said the measures taken against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir "cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza where Israel must uphold International Humanitarian Law". The ministers lead ultra-nationalist parties in the governing coalition, which holds an eight-seat majority in parliament. The support of Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, which holds six seats, and Smotrich's Religious Zionism party, which holds seven seats, is crucial to the government's survival. Speaking at the inauguration of a new settlement in the West Bank, Smotrich said he felt "contempt" towards the UK's move. "Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we cannot do it again," he said. "We are determined, God willing, to continue building." The minister was alluding to the period when Britain governed Palestine and imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration, most significantly from the late 1930s to late 1940s. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law - a position supported by an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year - although Israel disputes this. The possibility of sanctioning these two ministers has long been in the pipeline. In October, Lord Cameron said he had planned to sanction the pair, when he was foreign secretary from 2023-24, as a way of putting pressure on Israel. The UK's decision reflects growing popular and parliamentary pressure to take further action against the Israeli government for its operations both in Gaza and the West Bank. It also comes after a steady escalation of pressure by the UK and other allies. Last month the leaders of Britain, France and Canada issued a joint statement saying that Israel was at risk of breaking international law. The UK also broke off trade talks with Israel. In the Commons last month, Lammy described remarks by Smotrich about "cleansing" Gaza of Palestinians as "monstrous" and "dangerous" extremism. 19 May: UK, France and Canada denounce expanded Israeli offensive on Gaza and continuing blockade, warn of "concrete" response; Israeli PM calls move "huge prize" for Hamas 20 May: UK suspends free trade talks with Israel, sanctions settlers, and summons Israel's ambassador; Israel foreign ministry calls move "regrettable" 22 May: Israeli PM links criticism of Israel by leaders of UK, France and Canada to deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC on 21 May 10 June: UK sanctions Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for advocating forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza; Israel's foreign minister calls move "outrageous" Reacting to the sanctions, Conservative shadow home secretary Dame Priti Patel said: "We have been clear that the British government must leverage its influence at every opportunity to ensure the remaining hostages [held by Hamas] are released, that aid continues to reach those who need it, and a sustainable end to the conflict is achieved." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also welcomed the sanctions, but said it was "disappointing" that the Conservative government and Labour "took so long to act". It is 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 54,927 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Levin: The people are demanding judicial reform
The comments come at the pinnacle of the tensions between the judiciary and the rest of the government. Justice Minister Yariv Levin said the government was "exacting the will of the people" by continuing to push forward with controversialjudicial reform legislation that has split the country apart before October 7, and is being advanced alongside the continuing Israel-Hamas War and all of the troubles that come along with it. The comments come at the pinnacle of the tensions between the judiciary and the rest of the government. The latest amalgamation of a legal blockage by the legal advisory was by Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar, a move she said was illegal and improper. Levin made the comments at a right-wing protest which took place in front of the Supreme Court building in Jerusalem on Thursday evening. Tens of thousands of people attended. Other government officials in attendance were Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (Likud), National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Education Minister Yoav Kisch (Likud), Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit). Karhi said, "To be at the whim of [Supreme Court Chief Justice] Isaac Amit and [Attorney-General] Gali Bahrav-Miara is not a democracy. Majority rules!" He added, "We are here to tell the High Court of Justice and to the judiciary as a whole: No! No to control over the many by a minority... The control of democracy is determined at the ballot, not in the halls of the Supreme Court, and the ballot is what they [the judiciary] are trying to turn irrelevant, to empty the State from its Jewish core." Levin said, "We are here, for the people, not against them. We are for a state that is democratic and Jewish. the people decide, not you."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'A painful morning': Israeli politicians mourn the three soldiers killed in Jabalya
The three soldiers were killed in Jabalya when the Hummer vehicle they were riding on was damaged after it hit an explosive device. Politicians across the political spectrum mourned the three soldiers, St.-Sgt. Lior Steinberg, St.-Sgt. Ofek Barhana, and St.-Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, killed in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the three fell in pursuit of the defeat of Hamas and the liberation of the hostages. He said that the bravery of the three soldiers will forever be honored, adding, 'May their memory be blessed and held in the heart of the nation.' National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) said in a Facebook post that this was a painful morning. 'I send condolences and a big hug to the dear families and friends, and I join all of Israel in praying for the recovery of the wounded,' he said. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (RZP) said the three soldiers were 'brave-hearted warriors who fell defending the homeland,' in an X/Twitter post. 'The soldiers, with their big smiles, enter the hearts of all who see them. Their heroism is what enables the continued existence of the State of Israel,' he continued, adding that 'We will, God willing, continue their mission.' Education Minister Yoav Kisch (Likud) also expressed his condolences on X, calling the morning painful and the news bitter. Opposition leader and Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid called the morning difficult, and said, 'There is no heart that did not break this morning' on X. 'I share in the grief of the families in their difficult hour and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded,' Lapid said. Democrats chair Yair Golan called each of the killed soldiers 'a world unto themselves,' and expressed condolences to the families, friends, and communities also on X. The three soldiers were killed in Jabalya when the Hummer vehicle they were riding in was damaged after it hit an explosive device.
