Itamar Ben-Gvir: The Controversial Israeli Firebrand Mirroring Global Populist Trends

Polling ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election suggests that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party could secure seven to ten seats in the 120-member Knesset. This potential electoral success positions Ben-Gvir to play a crucial role in any future government led by Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, possibly making his support contingent for ministerial portfolios.

Ben-Gvir’s political trajectory aligns with a widening trend of populist right-wing parties gaining traction across Europe and the West. Similar movements include Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella's National Rally in France, Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, Pauline Hanson's One Nation in Australia, Italy’s Matteo Salvini, and Germany's Alice Weidel of the AfD.

As Israel's national security minister, Ben-Gvir oversees critical internal security functions, including the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service, and civilian firearms licensing. Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron and a candidate on the Otzma Yehudit list, described Ben-Gvir's political stance in an interview with Fox News Digital: "If he were in America, he would just be called a Texan." Fleisher elaborated that this implies a platform centered on "law and order, the death penalty for murderers, tough conditions for jihadists in our prisons and gun rights for the average Jewish person to be able to defend themselves in our national state."

Fleisher suggested that anxieties over mass immigration fueling Islamist extremism, citing unrest in parts of Europe, contribute to the desire for such policies in Israel. "In Israel, we don’t want to see Tel Aviv burning," he said, implying a public demand for what are known in the U.S. as "law-and-order" and "tough-on-crime" candidates.

However, Ben-Gvir's tenure has drawn criticism. Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon contended that Ben-Gvir's rhetoric has negatively impacted Israel's international standing. "Ben-Gvir spoke in a way that turned the entire world against Israel, portraying it as a racist country by making statements that made Israel a pariah state," Ayalon stated.

Ayalon also expressed concern over rising crime rates during Ben-Gvir's term, particularly in areas like the Negev and the Galilee, arguing that the minister has not delivered on promises of improved governability and authority. "During his tenure, Israel has become less secure internally because crime is rising," Ayalon said.

In 2007, Ben-Gvir was convicted of supporting a terrorist organization and inciting racism. His campaign stated that the conviction stemmed from displaying a sticker of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose Kach party was outlawed in 1994, and represented his support for a Jewish nationalist movement. The campaign added that Ben-Gvir has publicly stated he has matured and moved on from those positions.

Despite public disagreements and past tensions, Ben-Gvir's party has seen electoral success. Polling indicates his party could win between seven and ten seats in the upcoming election. In March, the Knesset approved a death-penalty law championed by Otzma Yehudit and other lawmakers. Fleisher credited Ben-Gvir with tripling firearm licenses, establishing rapid-response teams, and overhauling the prison system. He also noted Ben-Gvir’s efforts to address what he described as equality for Jews on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Recent exchanges between Ben-Gvir and Prime Minister Netanyahu have fueled speculation about their alliance. Following a report quoting Netanyahu suggesting he would not serve again as national security minister, Ben-Gvir responded assertively via social media. Likud later posted a message on WhatsApp affirming Ben-Gvir's status as a senior minister who would remain so in the next government, provided a bloc of left-wing and Arab parties did not win.

Despite these public statements, Ayalon suggested that Netanyahu could still choose to exclude Ben-Gvir from a future government, speculating that the Prime Minister is capable of strategic shifts. Current polls show Netanyahu's bloc trailing the opposition, led by Gadi Eisenkot, with neither side currently holding a clear path to the 61 seats required for a majority government.