The charismatic far-right leader is expected to become the new interior minister of the Netanyahu government. An appointment that is not without risks, say experts.
The attack that left 18 injured and killed a Canadian-Israeli teenager on Wednesday in Jerusalem could be a step towards the appointment of ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir as interior minister in Israel.
Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu has yet to form his coalition government following his victory in the November 2 legislative elections. Discussions are ongoing.
Greater powers for the Minister of the Interior
But if confirmed, the choice of Mr. Ben-Gvir, a supporter of “law and order”, could have unfortunate consequences.
During the campaign, the leader of the ultra-nationalist party Otzma Yehudit made clear his desire to tackle the problem of (Arab) crime and Jewish insecurity in the north and south of the country.
But some fear that the far-right leader, convicted 50 times for incitement to racial hatred, will take advantage of his new position to promote his Zionist program to the detriment of relations with the Arab population, which have already deteriorated considerably in course of the last year.
In Israel, the interior minister technically has little influence over police activities. He is not authorized to get involved in specific operations or investigations and has only partial control over budgets.
According to an agreement reached on Sunday, in exchange for its support for the coalition, the Netanyahu government could however grant greater powers to this key ministry, which would leave Ben-Gvir more leeway financially and for the deployment of forces. order in the “sensitive” areas of the country.
“He is asking for 9,000 more police officers and salary increases for the police. These demands seem rational given the circumstances, admits Tamar Hermann, a professor of political science at Israel’s Open University. The problem with a fairly radical program like his is that you wonder if he will abuse his powers. »
A radical at the root
Legitimate apprehensions, given the sulphurous past of this charismatic lawyer, recognizable among a thousand by his myopic glasses and his good-natured appearance.
His first appearance on television in 1995 showed the Cadillac badge stolen from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s car, saying, “We went to his car, we can go to him . »
Two weeks later, Mr. Rabin was assassinated by a religious extremist.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is also reformed from the army (because of his anti-Arab radicalism), militates for the Kach (openly racist political party) and was sentenced in 2007 for incitement to hatred and support for a terrorist organization.
He then became a lawyer, specializing in the defense of ultranationalist Jewish settlers. He does not go out without his revolver and multiplies provocative visits to the Temple Mount, where the al-Aqsa mosque is located, the third place of worship in the Muslim world.
Sign of his “convictions”: a portrait of the Israeli-American terrorist Baruch Goldstein, responsible for the death of 29 Muslims in 1994 in a mosque in Hebron, sat in his living room for several years…
Which Ben-Gvir?
Political scientist Assaf Shapira, a member of the Israel Democracy Institute, notes that Ben-Gvir showed signs of “moderation” during the last campaign, saying in particular “that he wanted to work to improve the lives of Arab citizens and was not aiming only to punish criminals and terrorists”.
The question is what kind of Ben-Gvir we are going to have [au gouvernement]. The one who tries to be accepted as a central figure and a legitimate player in political life or the one who provokes and stirs up riots?
Assaf Shapira, political scientist, member of the Israel Democracy Institute
Tamar Hermann, for her part, does not believe in the softening hypothesis. She recalls that two weeks ago, the far-right politician attended a ceremony in honor of Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder of Kach, who pleaded for the deportation of Arabs from Israel.
The expert knows that the far-right politician meets the expectations of a part of Israeli society – Arabs included – concerned about the “exploding” crime problems in the country.
But that does not exclude slippages and more pessimistic scenarios, according to her.
“The situation may deteriorate. He can misuse his power against Arabs, but not against Jews, which would heighten tensions. He can also decide to act against the Bedouins of the Negev, which has become a region without faith or law. If this turns into a bloodbath, all Arabs in Israel will have good reason to protest. And if it spreads, other Arab countries will also want to respond. »
“Netanyahu will probably not want to take the risk of colliding with this part of the country, tempers Mme Hermann. But there’s the potential here for something we haven’t seen in the past. A possible ticking time bomb…”