The Israeli Defense Force’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, briefed ministers at a security cabinet meeting last week about recent operations in Gaza, where Israel has been carrying out a military offensive for almost seven months now in response to Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 people and captured roughly 250.
During the briefing, Halevi said that hundreds of Palestinians were recently arrested after surrendering to the military.
“Why are there so many arrests?” Ben-Gvir allegedly asked. “Can’t you kill some? Do you want to tell me they all surrender? What are we to do with so many arrested? It’s dangerous for the soldiers.”
How is Ben-Gvir a minister? And how is the US acting like a government that would appoint him as the minister of national security is conducting this war in anything resembling an ethical way?
When he turned 18 and reported for mandatory conscription, the IDF rejected him for being too extreme.
After Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo occords, the last best chance for a peaceful resolution to this conflict, Ben-Gvir stole Rabin’s hood ornament and brandished it on national television saying something to the effect of “we got his ornament, we can get Rabin”. Not long after, an Israeli extremist assasinated Rabin; and with him any hope of peace.
He has since been convicted, by an Israeli court, of supporting a terrorist organization (Kach), and incirement of racism.
That is the man in charge of Israel’s national security.