Latest news with #ItamarBenGvir
New York Times
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Fed Up With Netanyahu and Handling of Gaza War, Democrats Rebuke Israel
For years, Democrats have warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, with his right-wing politics and policies, was undermining their party's backing for Israel that dates to the nation's inception in 1948. In recent days, amid mounting scenes of starvation and devastation in Gaza, it has become clearer than ever that the longtime bipartisan consensus in support for Israel is, at least for the moment, in tatters. Democrats have long objected to Mr. Netanyahu's policies, in particular his efforts to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and his far-right government's conduct of the Gaza war. But some supporters of Israel fear that the hatred of the prime minister — Israel's longest-serving leader, who has been in power with only one interruption since 2009 — is metastasizing into a broader rejection of Israel. Support for Israel's military action in Gaza has plunged into the single digits among Democrats. Across the country, local Democratic officials are pushing for embargoes on military and financial support of Israel. And long-boiling anger over the Gaza war among the party's activists is manifesting in striking new ways in the halls of Congress. On Wednesday night, a majority of the Senate Democratic caucus, including more moderate lawmakers, voted for a resolution calling to block the export of automatic assault rifles for use by the Israel National Police, which is overseen by Itamar Ben-Gvir, perhaps the most extreme right-wing member of the government. A slightly smaller group voted for a measure urging the blocking of the sale of some bombs. The measures failed, but they amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of the Netanyahu government and its handling of the escalating humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Al Bawaba
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Ben Gvir: 'Germany back to supporting Nazis 80 years after the Holocaust'
ALBAWABA- Radical Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir has ignited widespread outrage after accusing Germany of 'returning to supporting the Nazis', a shocking statement prompted by Berlin's reported intent to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution. Ben Gvir's inflammatory comment comes despite Germany being one of Israel's strongest backers after the United States, and a key supplier of military and diplomatic support during its ongoing war on Gaza. 'Eighty years after the Holocaust, Germany is once again siding with the Nazis,' Ben Gvir claimed, in response to growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood. His statement aligns with recent remarks by the Israeli Knesset speaker at the United Nations, opposing a global diplomatic push led by Saudi Arabia and France. 80 שנה לשואה, וגרמניה חוזרת לתמוך בנאציזם — איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) July 31, 2025 That initiative culminated in a two-state solution conference in New York, where 16 countries signaled plans to jointly recognize the State of Palestine by September in a move to resolve the decades-long conflict. Israeli officials have lashed out at recent efforts by France, the UK, Canada, and Germany to support Palestinian statehood, characterizing such moves as betrayal. The backlash comes as Gaza faces a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that the number of Palestinians who have died from famine has reached 159, including 90 children, with two more deaths, one of them a child, recorded in the last 24 hours. At the same time, internal Israeli reports reflect growing concern about shifting international sentiment. According to the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel, American public and congressional support for Israel's military actions in Gaza is waning. While President Donald Trump continue to back Israel unconditionally, the long-term outlook appears fragile. In parallel, Israel's Defense and Justice Ministers issued a joint statement reinforcing their long-standing goal of asserting Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. 'We must not miss the opportunity available now to impose full sovereignty,' they declared, revealing that maps and policy frameworks have already been prepared to support the move. In an apparent bid to curb the mounting diplomatic fallout, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to meet with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday evening, hoping to dissuade Berlin from joining what Israeli media has termed a "diplomatic tsunami" of recognition for a Palestinian state. This latest escalation underscores growing global frustration with Israel's continued occupation and war in Gaza, and the deepening isolation of Israeli policy, one now increasingly seen as incompatible with international law and peace efforts.
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Netherlands bars two hardline Israeli ministers
TDT | Amsterdam The Netherlands has declared Israel's finance and national security ministers persona non grata for inciting violence and urging ethnic cleansing in Gaza. In June, the Netherlands backed a failed Swedish proposal to impose EU sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar BenGvir. 'They repeatedly incited settler violence against Palestinians, promoted illegal settlement expansion, and called for ethnic cleansing in Gaza,' Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told parliament in a letter released late Monday. Smotrich responded on X, saying European leaders had succumbed to 'the lies of radical Islam that is taking over' and 'rising antisemitism'. Ben-Gvir said he would continue to act for Israel, even if he was banned from entering 'all of Europe'.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Netherlands bans far-right Israeli ministers as EU considers sanctions over Gaza
Far-right Israeli lawmakers Itamar Ben Gvir, centre, and Bezalel Smotrich, right, attend the swearing-in ceremony for Israel's parliament, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo, Pool, File) THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands has banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country and the European Union has proposed suspending Israel from a lucrative tech investment program as frustration mounts over worsening conditions in Gaza. The ban targets hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, key partners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. It was announced in a letter sent late Monday by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp to lawmakers along with other measures, declaring 'The war in Gaza must stop.' The pair are champions of the Israeli settlement movement that supports continuing the war in Gaza, facilitating what they call the voluntary emigration of its Palestinian population and building Jewish settlements. Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed financial sanctions on the two men last month. EU considers sanctions on Israel's science and tech access The European Commission on Monday proposed partially suspending Israel's access to a lucrative science and technology program. The European Parliament could call a vote to cut off Israel's access to the investment arm of the European Innovation Council. To pass, the vote would need 55% of the bloc's 27-member nations. The 900-million-euro investment program is focused on small businesses and 'disruptive innovations' that have 'potential dual-use applications, such as in cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence,' the commission said in a statement. It said the partial suspension of Israeli companies from applying for grants or equity investments worth 200 million euros annually is a targeted and reversible action and keeps intact Israel's access to roughly two-thirds of the program that is for civilian use. The commission found Israel's military campaign in Gaza breached terms of a bilateral deal between Brussels and Israel known as an Association Agreement, according to senior officials tasked with communicating for the commission who were not authorized to speak publicly. European countries pressure Israel to let in more aid Europe has widely soured on Israel over Gaza. Countries including Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have sought to aggressively pressure Israel to let in more aid and cease military operations. Israel has yet to reach the six points agreed in a new aid deal with the EU, which include adequate amounts of daily trucks allowed or newly opened border crossings, according to senior officials. EU aid teams have been prevented from entering Gaza despite recent humanitarian pauses. The suspension is one of 10 options presented by the commission to member states. Other steps could be suspending an aviation agreement, blocking imports from settlements and curtailing travel for Israelis in the visa-free zone known as Schengen, according to a leaked document seen by The Associated Press and verified by two EU diplomats. Like the Netherlands, other nations could act on their own to sanction specific companies or individuals in Israel or the occupied West Bank. Pressure has been mounting on the Dutch government, which is gearing up for elections in October, to change course on Israeli policy. Last week, thousands demonstrated at train stations across the country, carrying pots and pans to signify the food shortage in Gaza. The government also will summon the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to urge Netanyahu to change course and 'immediately take measures that lead to a substantial and rapid improvement in the humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip,' Veldkamp wrote. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich remained defiant. In a statement on social media, Smotrich said European leaders were surrendering to 'the lies of radical Islam' and Jews may not be able to live safely in Europe in the future. Ben-Gvir said in Europe 'a Jewish minister from Israel is unwanted, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted,' but he will continue to act. Israel says Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Gaza After international pressure, Israel over the weekend announced humanitarian pauses, airdrops and other measures meant to allow more aid to Gaza, but Palestinians say little or nothing has changed on the ground. The UN has described it as a one-week scale-up of aid and Israel has not said how long the latest measures would last. Israel asserts Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Palestinians in Gaza and accuses its militants of siphoning aid to support its rule in the territory. The UN denies aid looting is systematic and says it lessens or ends entirely when enough aid is allowed to enter Gaza. Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, are wanted by the International Criminal Court over allegations of crimes against humanity. They are accused of using 'starvation as a method of warfare' by restricting humanitarian aid and of intentionally targeting civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Member states of the ICC are obliged to arrest the men if they arrive on their territory. Molly Quell And Sam Mcneil, The Associated Press McNeil reported from Brussels. Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel summons Dutch ambassador for reprimand
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has summoned the Dutch ambassador to Israel for a reprimand, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority has reported. Earlier, the Dutch government barred two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country, citing their incitement of violence and support for ethnic cleansing.
