- Bella Hadid and Israeli Minister Clash Over Palestinian Rights
- Ben-Gvir’s Controversial Statement on West Bank Mobility
- Protests and Escalation of Tensions in the West Bank
Itamar Ben-Gvir contended that Jewish residents in the occupied West Bank have the right to life and mobility over Palestinians. The 26-year-old celebrity condemned Ben-Gvir’s views on Instagram after he made the claim.
Bella Hadid and Israel’s national security minister have disputed his remarks regarding Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Itamar Ben-Gvir stated in an interview with N12 News on Wednesday that the safety and mobility rights of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank were more important than those of Palestinians.
The Palestinian populace has steadfastly opposed Israel’s imposition of travel restrictions. Including checkpoints, in the West Bank, where they exercise partial autonomy.
Mr. Ben-Gvir, who resides in the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba near the West Bank city of Hebron, asserted that these restrictions were essential to ensuring the safety of his family.
“The privilege for my family, including my spouse and children, to travel through Judea and Samaria takes precedence over the mobility rights of Arab residents,” he said, referring to the ancient Hebrew designation for the West Bank.
The 26-year-old Palestinian activist Hadid criticised Mr. Ben-Gvir’s statement on Instagram, where she has roughly 60 million followers.
In a post shared on Thursday, she wrote, “Under no circumstances, at no time, and especially not in the year 2023. Should one life be deemed more valuable than another’s. Especially due to their ethnicity, culture, or unfounded animosity.”
Hadid was labeled a ‘opponent of Israel’
In response, Mr. Ben-Gvir issued a statement on Friday in which he referred to Hadid as an “anti-Israel activist” and alleged that she posted a portion of the interview selectively on social media to portray him unjustly as a bigot.
Later, he appeared to double down on his statements, saying, “Not only do I not retract what I said, I repeat it: our right to return home in peace, to roam Judea and Samaria, and to not be killed is greater than the freedom of movement of Palestinian Authority residents.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Mr. Ben-Gvir’s remarks on Thursday, characterizing them as “repugnant and prejudiced” and arguing that they highlighted Israel’s apartheid system and Jewish dominance. However, Israel refutes any claims that it maintains an apartheid regime over Palestinians.
Protests in front of the minister’s house
Left-wing activists demonstrated outside Mr. Ben-Gvir’s residence on Friday in response to the security minister’s remarks regarding the Israeli government’s efforts to reform the judiciary.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s renewed efforts to limit the Supreme Court’s authority have sparked unprecedented nationwide demonstrations.
Shortly after assuming office in January, Mr. Netanyahu’s government, characterized by its religious-nationalist posture, enacted the comprehensive reform.
Central to the proposed changes are restrictions on the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction, which strengthens the government’s ability to appoint justices.
Escalation of hostility
In the past 15 months, the West Bank has witnessed an increase in violence, characterized by frequent Israeli military operations, Palestinian street assaults, and Jewish settler attacks on Palestinian communities.
Since the beginning of the year, hostilities have resulted in the fatalities of at least 188 Palestinians and 35 Israelis.
Mr. Ben-Gvir, a religious-nationalist in Netanyahu’s government, has been convicted of terrorism support and anti-Arab incitement. Since joining the government, he claims that his views have become more balanced. But he has not provided any additional information.
During the 1967 Middle East conflict, Israel assumed control over the West Bank. Despite being considered illegitimate by the majority of nations, including the United Nations, Israel has continued to expand a large number of settlements, a claim that Israel disputes.
