Tulkarm Governor Rejects Ben-Gvir's Rhetoric, Citing Political Exploitation

The Governor of Tulkarm, Abdullah Kamel, has responded to statements made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, asserting that Tulkarm is not an electoral pawn or a platform for incitement. Ben-Gvir, speaking near Tulkarm, had called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, its disarmament, and the arrest of its members. Kamel stated that such remarks reveal a pattern of frightening the Israeli public and exploiting security concerns for political and electoral gain.

Kamel criticized the attempt to portray Palestinians as a constant threat to Israelis by highlighting the proximity of Tulkarm and Qalqilya to Israeli cities. He described this as political rhetoric that fuels fear and exacerbates conflict, rather than a responsible security approach. The Governor suggested that on the anniversary of October 7th, the focus should be on preventing future tragedies and protecting civilians, not on using past suffering to generate more fear and incitement.

He emphasized that Tulkarm is not an electoral threat to Ben-Gvir and that the Palestinian people are not a tool in his political campaigns. Kamel urged Ben-Gvir to seek votes without frightening Israelis or inciting against the Palestinian Authority. He argued that true security is built on recognizing the rights of peoples, ending the occupation, and establishing a political and security reality that ensures safety and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis, not on intimidation, displacement, land confiscation, settlement expansion, or violence supported by settler organizations.

Kamel acknowledged that Tulkarm and its camps have endured incursions, displacement, and blockades but reiterated a message of seeking peace and security based on justice, freedom, and dignity. He directly addressed Ben-Gvir, asking him not to use Tulkarm as fuel for his electoral campaign or Israeli fears as a political commodity, stating that Tulkarm, like all of Palestine, desires a just peace and will not accept being a scapegoat for fear or a platform for incitement.