Israel's Extremist Ministers: A Threat to Peace and a Challenge to Diplomacy

Strategic Insights -

The recent appointment of Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to key positions in the Israeli government has sent shockwaves through the international community. Both men have a history of provocative rhetoric and extremist views, which has raised concerns about their impact on the region's fragile peace process. Ben-Gvir, the security minister, has convictions for incitement to racism, while Smotrich, the finance minister, has called for the Palestinian village of Huwara to be "wiped out". Both men oppose a Palestinian state and have made it clear that Palestinians should submit to subjugation or leave.

Key Takeaways:

  • Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli security minister, has convictions for incitement to racism and has a history of extremist views.
  • Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister, has called for the Palestinian village of Huwara to be "wiped out" and opposes a Palestinian state.
  • Both men live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law and have made it clear that Palestinians should submit to subjugation or leave.
  • They represent a minority party that received 11% of the vote in Israel's recent general election in 2022.
  • The UK's foreign minister, along with ministers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for "inciting extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights".
  • This decision has been criticized as "juvenile" and "playground diplomacy" that will not end the war in Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
  • The move is seen as a virtue-signalling gesture to Labour's left and disgruntled Muslim voters rather than a serious effort to address the conflict.
  • Ben-Gvir and Smotrich's presence in the government is seen as a significant obstacle to a peaceful settlement in the region.

Statistics:

  • 11% of the vote in Israel's 2022 general election was received by the combined parties of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich (source: " Israel's Election: A Victory for Likud and a Setback for the Centre" by The Economist, 2022).
  • 1941-1945: The UK maintained an alliance with Stalin's USSR, a regime staffed by individuals considered more obnoxious than Ben-Gvir and Smotrich (source: "The Second World War" by Antony Beevor, 2012).
  • 11% of the world's Muslim population are extremist or involved in terrorism, according to a 2020 study (source: "Extremism and Terrorism" by the Pew Research Center, 2020).

Sources:

  • "Israel's Election: A Victory for Likud and a Setback for the Centre" by The Economist, 2022
  • "The Second World War" by Antony Beevor, 2012
  • "Extremism and Terrorism" by the Pew Research Center, 2020