US concerned over appointment of Israeli ultranationalist as public security minister
With President Isaac Herzog preparing to task Benjamin Netanyahu with the composition of the next government, the Biden administration is increasingly worried over ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir, ideological successor of Rabbi Meir Kahane, becoming a Cabinet minister.
TEL AVIV — The US Ambassador’s Residence on the Mediterranean coast north of Tel Aviv has rarely housed a more concerned envoy than incumbent Tom Nides since the results were announced of Israel’s Nov. 1 elections.
Like Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Nides, too, sent out feelers in recent days to gauge whether outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, separately or together, might express “willingness” to save Israel from the emerging ultranationalist, ultrareligious government being formed by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu. Like Herzog, he, too, has realized that this is not a viable option, at this stage.
Just when he thought things could not get worse, Nides, like many top officials and leaders in the region, Europe and the United States, heard that Netanyahu was preparing to appoint Knesset member Itamar Ben-Gvir, chair of the ultranationalist Jewish Power party, as minister of public security, a post that includes responsibility for the Israeli Police and public order. What's more, Ben-Gvir’s running mate — Religious Zionism party head Bezalel Smotrich — is said to be in line for the defense minister’s job.
Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich would probably not be eligible to visit the United States, as frequently required by the holders of these ministerial positions. Ben-Gvir has a criminal record, having been convicted of supporting (Jewish) terrorism, and Smotrich was detained in the past for six weeks by the Shin Bet security agency on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack.
