Controversial far-right candidate Itamar Ben-Gvir told is eyeing a seat on a powerful parliamentary judicial committee in the next government, a position that he says would enable him to "change the world of law in Israel," he told i24NEWS on Wednesday.
Ben-Gvir – a lawyer who has made a name for himself by defending fellow far-right activists accused of hate crimes against Palestinians and other minorities – is running with the extremist Otzma Yehudit party, whose ties to the outlawed Kahanist movement led to a High Court petition against its participation in the April 9 election.
The fringe far-right faction in February accepted a deal orchestrated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join ranks with the Habayit Hayhudi and National Union parties in a bid to consolidate votes on the right-wing bloc.
"It's no secret that Netanyahu wanted [this union] because [it] brings votes to the right. It can bring him the government, and that's why he acted towards it. And now we have to bring the votes," Ben-Gvir told i24NEWS.
'I don't call upon murdering or hurting Arabs, but many Arabs are not loyal and if they're not loyal they shouldn't be here,'@itamarbengvir tells @NuritBen: #IsraElections2019
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In exchange for the merger, Netanyahu promised the collective known as the Union of Right-Wing Parties two ministerial posts sparking outrage across Israel's political spectrum and among U.S. Jewish groups, including the powerful pro-Israel lobby AIPAC.
Ben-Gvir told i24NEWS that the party has not explicitly received promises from Netanyahu for any specific ministries, but that if a ministerial post were to be granted, National Union leader Bezalel Smotrich would be named justice minister.
"If we're going to be big enough and strong enough, God willing, Netanyahu will have to give us ministries. And I think that Betzalel Smoterich is very worthy of being Minister of Justice."
Smotrich also said his party was interested in two specific ministerial portfolios, namely, the education and justice ministries.
As for himself, Ben-Gvir says "the subject that I asked for and got was the law. I'm very connected to it, I'm a lawyer, and we're talking about the [Constitution, Law and Justice Committee] and the [Judicial Selection Committee] whether we're in coalition or opposition."
'The ones who are enemies from within are the ones who are in the Knesset — they call to murder the soldiers of the @IDF,' says @itamarbengvir on who his Jewish Power Party considers to be an enemy of Israel: #IsraElections2019
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— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 3, 2019
The powerful Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee deals with issues pertaining to Israel's quasi-constitutional Basic Laws, as well as matters of legislation and procedures of justice.
"I think that my activity, the fact that I'm in such a committee, can change the world of law in Israel," he said.
Ben-Gvir holds the seventh spot on the Union's electoral list, and a petition to allow him to be moved up the list in place of Michael Ben-Ari – who was disqualified from running – was rejected by the High Court earlier this week.
With the latest i24NEWS-Israel Hayom poll projecting the alliance earning six seats in the upcoming vote, Ben-Gvir would be narrowly edged out of a seat in parliament.
Israeli moderates and U.S. Jewish groups have both expressed deep concern over the next government's potential inclusion of far-right candidates like Ben-Gvir, who has been accused both incitement and racism, particularly against Arabs.
Ben-Gvir dismissed a rare and sharp rebuke by AIPAC, saying that the powerful pro-Israel lobby has never levied similar criticism against Arab members of parliament like former Balad party member Hanin Zoabi, who has long drawn the ire of right-wing lawmakers for calling IDF soldiers "murderers" and use of similar rhetoric.
"This is the home of the Jewish people, this is our country, we don't have another country. And I think that when Jews come and live here they have the right and the permission to come to criticize," Ben-Gvir said.
"But as for people who sit abroad..they don't have the right to manage my life here in this country."
Ben-Gvir – who often offers legal representation to members of the Lehava political organization opposed to Jewish integration with other groups – told i24NEWS that he believes Arab "enemies" living within Israel's borders should be expelled.
"Unfortunately, there are a lot of phenomena of disloyalty," Ben-Gvir told i24NEWS. "Not all the Arabs are disloyal, some of them are loyal and I extend a hand of peace to them. But anyone who is not loyal should not be here in this country."
He also insists that he does not advocate for violence against Palestinians or Arab-Israelis, despite his frequent defense of Jewish terror suspects.
"I don't call for murdering or hurting Arabs. I don't want people to go and take up arms and hurt Arabs. But I do say that many Arabs are disloyal and if they're not loyal they shouldn't be here."
'I can drag Netanyahu right'
Ben-Gvir said that despite his support for Netanyahu, there does exist some daylight between his party and the incumbent prime minister, especially regarding matters of security.
"Between me and Netanyahu there have been many controversies throughout the years. We were the opposition to Netanyahu on the right," he says.
'Between me and Netanyahu there have been many controversies throughout the years — on the other hand he is a very wise person — between him and @gantzbe, of course I prefer @netanyahu,' says Jewish Power Party candidate @itamarbengvir: #IsraElections2019 pic.twitter.com/7sGm1cQFA7
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 3, 2019
"Netanyahu, the ideas he has, I connect to them. But the problem is in application and implementation and I believe….if I will be in that coalition, I can drag Netanyahu to the right."
Ben-Gvir criticized Netanyahu's response to ongoing violence out of the Gaza Strip, referring to repeated rocket bombardments including a barrage in November that saw 500 rockets launched into Israeli territory over a 48-hour period.
"My party is a party that wants a sane solution," Ben-Gvir said. "Anybody who hits us, we hit them. If they send missiles, we will too."
Netanyahu is seeking a hard-fought re-election after helming what was widely considered Israel's most right-wing government in decades. But he is facing a strong challenge from the centrist Blue and White alliance under former IDF chief Benny Gantz.
While the two jockey in the polls, the right-wing bloc appears to have a collective advantage in terms of viable coalition options thanks in part to vote-sharing agreements like that of the Union of Right-Wing Parties.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS. Read more at https://www.i24news.tv/en.
