Extreme-right MK Ben Gvir claims ‘it has been years’ since he chanted ‘Death to Arabs’

Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir speaks during a press conference ahead of the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, July 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir speaks during a press conference ahead of the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, July 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir tells Channel 12 news “it has been years” since he chanted “Death to Arabs.”

Ben Gvir was asked to respond to a video from Friday at Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market, when he silenced a man who called out “Death to Arabs.”

“I’m no longer 16, 20 or 25… I was wrong when I generalized that all the Arabs should be expelled,” he tells the network.

Channel 12 plays a video of him marching in Hadera in March, following a deadly terror attack, surrounded by supporters shouting “Death to Arabs,” whom he does not tell to stop.

In response, Ben Gvir says: “Am I to understand that I’m supposed to be the national silencer [of such chants] at every moment?”

While he has changed, Ben Gvir says, Ra’am’s Mansour Abbas has not. “A year ago, Mansour Abbas embraced terrorists… to whom do you think [he is still] transferring money?” he says.

Addressing himself to Israel’s left, Ben Gvir says he doesn’t think they are “traitors.”

“There are some; I’d put Ofer Cassif on a flight along with Ayman Odeh. But the left, generally, are my brothers. I am battling on their behalf too,” he says.

Channel 12 also plays an interview from February 2021, in which then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Ben Gvir won’t be a minister in his government.

Ben Gvir says that if asked about this today, Netanyahu “would give a different answer.”

He says he “admires and appreciates” Netanyahu, “and we’ve gotten to know each other in the past year.”

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.