Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked international condemnation in recent weeks with a series of provocative actions, including threatening to block a US-Iran ceasefire deal and publicly harassing activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The incidents drew rebukes from the UK, France, Italy, Canada, and even the US, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to describe the behavior as 'not in line with Israel's values and norms'. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused Ben-Gvir of knowingly harming Israel's image.

However, analysts argue that portraying Ben-Gvir as a fringe figure is misleading. Since assuming the newly created National Security portfolio in 2022, he has gained unchallenged control over police and prison services, using his position to advance far-right policies.

Ben-Gvir's radical history dates back to 1995, when he threatened then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin weeks before his assassination. He was convicted in 2007 for incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization. Despite this, he became a lawyer and defended far-right settlers.

Knesset member Aida Touma-Sliman stated that Ben-Gvir 'is stupid, but he's not acting on his own; he is helped by other politicians and civil servants who share his beliefs'. She noted that without their support, he could not politicize the police or mistreat prisoners.

Under Ben-Gvir, gun licenses for settlers in the occupied West Bank have surged, leading to increased violence against Palestinians. He has also led multiple incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, defying government policy.

Former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy criticized the focus on Ben-Gvir's style rather than the substance of his policies, which include worsening conditions for Palestinian detainees and supporting settlement expansion. 'They aren't changing their policies whatsoever,' he said.

Despite international backlash, Ben-Gvir's support base remains strong. Pollster Dahlia Scheindlin noted that his positions are often no more extreme than those of many in the ruling Likud party. His supporters, she said, 'believe that threats from Palestinians can only be addressed through force and humiliation.'

Source: www.aljazeera.com