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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Ben Gvir brushes off US criticism, repeats calls for emigration of Gazan civilians
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir leads a faction meeting of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on January 1, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir brushes off the US State Department’s condemnation of him and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for urging Palestinians in Gaza to be resettled outside the Strip.
“I really admire the United States of America but with all due respect, we are not another star in the American flag,” Ben Gvir, who heads the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party, says in a statement.
“The United States is our best friend but before everything else, we will do what is good for the State of Israel: The emigration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow residents [of the border area] to return home and live in security and protect IDF soldiers,” he adds.
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