Israel's police minister's 'inflammatory comments' strongly condemned by US

author: FutureCar Staff    

Israel's far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has ignited controversy with his remarks regarding the freedom of movement for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. This statement has garnered strong condemnation, including from the United States, which is Israel's largest supporter.

In an interview on Israeli television's Channel 12, Ben-Gvir stated, "My right, my wife's right, and my children's right to travel on the roads of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) is more important than the right to movement for Arabs." He then directed his comments towards Arab-Israeli journalist Mohammad Magadli, emphasizing that his right to life takes precedence.

The United States, which provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid annually, strongly condemned Ben-Gvir's remarks. The US State Department issued a statement saying, "We strongly condemn Minister Ben-Gvir's inflammatory comments on the freedom of movement of Palestinian residents of the West Bank. We condemn all racist rhetoric, and such messages are particularly damaging when amplified by those in leadership positions and are incongruent with advancing respect for human rights for all."

Ben-Gvir resides with his family in the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron, a Palestinian city. Some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing religious government have advocated for even stricter controls on roads.

The US statement highlighted that both President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken believe that "both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to enjoy equal measures of freedom and security."

Protests took place outside Ben-Gvir's home, with dozens expressing their opposition to his statements.

In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Currently, approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers reside in these territories. The Palestinians assert their claim to these areas for an independent state of Palestine, with Arab East Jerusalem serving as its capital.

Israeli fascist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, defines apartheid in a simple way. He had the audacity to tell this to TV journalist @mmagadli, an Arab citizen of Israel, explaining his right to life is more important than his movement. - Louis Fishman لوي فيشمان לואי פישמן (@Istanbultelaviv) August 23, 2023

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FutureCar Staff