Western governments have been condemning Israel one by one, not over the ongoing conflict in Gaza but due to a provocative video by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The footage shows him mocking detained activists from an aid flotilla attempting to breach Gaza's naval blockade, with activists forced to kneel while Israel's national anthem plays. Ben-Gvir is seen waving an Israeli flag and declaring, 'We are the landlords here.'
The international backlash was swift, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stating she was 'truly appalled' and that the video 'violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity.' Representatives from France, Italy, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Greece, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand also condemned the act, with some summoning Israeli ambassadors. Even the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Ben-Gvir had 'betrayed the dignity of his nation.'
While Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, distanced themselves from Ben-Gvir's actions, describing them as 'not in line with Israel's values,' the reality is that Ben-Gvir epitomises modern Israeli politics. As national security minister, he controls police forces, has cracked down on Palestinian citizens' freedom of expression, distributed thousands of assault rifles to Jewish civilians, and altered the religious status quo on the Temple Mount. He also oversees a prison system that human rights groups describe as 'torture camps,' with reports of rape and deaths in custody.
Ben-Gvir, a longtime supporter of the racist Rabbi Meir Kahane, has mainstreamed the agenda of expelling Palestinians, a shift enabled by Netanyahu's coalition. His rise reflects a broader trend in Israeli politics, where far-right ideologies have gained legitimacy. The international community must recognise that Ben-Gvir is not an outlier but a representative of the government's direction.
