Israeli Minister Faces Backlash for Controversial Remarks on Palestinian Freedom of Movement
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has sparked outrage and widespread criticism for his recent remarks concerning Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the occupied West Bank. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Ben-Gvir argued that his right to move freely as a Jewish settler outweighs the same right for Palestinians.
During the interview, Ben-Gvir stated, My right, the right of my wife and my children to move around Judea and Samaria, is more important than freedom of movement for the Arabs. He further justified his statement by asserting that the right to life takes precedence over the right to freedom of movement.
These comments have drawn heavy criticism, with many asserting that they are evidence of Israel’s alleged apartheid system, which seeks to maintain Jewish dominance from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Protests were organized outside Ben-Gvir’s home in a West Bank settlement, and social media exploded with criticism, using the catchphrase Sorry, Mohammad alongside videos depicting Israeli violence against Palestinians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, defended Ben-Gvir’s remarks in a statement, claiming that Israel allows maximum freedom of movement in the West Bank. Netanyahu argued that Palestinian militants take advantage of this freedom to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians. He maintained that Minister Ben-Gvir’s comments addressed this issue, emphasizing that the right to life precedes freedom of movement.
According to U.N. monitors, there are at least 645 physical barriers constraining Palestinian movement in the West Bank, with over half of them significantly impacting Palestinians’ access to essential services such as city centers, major roads, and farmland.
Renowned supermodel Bella Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, joined the criticism against Ben-Gvir by sharing a clip of his interview on Instagram, accompanied by a powerful statement: In no place and at no time should one life be more valuable than another’s, especially based on ethnicity, culture, or pure hatred. Hadid also shared a video from the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, showing Israeli soldiers in Hebron informing a resident that a specific street is off-limits to Palestinians. She drew attention to the alarming parallel with historical instances of segregation.
In response to Hadid’s post, Minister Ben-Gvir invited her to Kiryat Arba, the settlement where he resides near Hebron, emphasizing the need to witness firsthand the daily life and security concerns faced by Jewish inhabitants.
It is worth noting that Ben-Gvir has previously been convicted of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. Before entering politics, he displayed a portrait in his living room of a Jewish man who killed 29 Palestinians in the West Bank in 1994.
These controversial remarks by Israel’s National Security Minister have reignited the debate surrounding Palestinian freedom of movement and provoked a heated discussion about the treatment and rights of Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank. The clash of perspectives highlights the ongoing complexities and challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
