Ben-Gvir Tells TIME Magazine Israel Must Conquer Gaza, Encourage Emigration

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in his first interview with foreign media since taking office four years ago, told TIME magazine that Israel "must conquer all of Gaza" and pledged to encourage "voluntary emigration" from both Gaza and the West Bank. Ben-Gvir, who chairs the Otzma Yehudit party, also stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "made mistakes and is not blameless" for the October 7th attacks, but added that "many people are more guilty than him."

TIME described Ben-Gvir as a "militant far-right figure who was once considered too extreme to serve in the IDF." The magazine suggested that if Ben-Gvir achieves his goals, his leverage over a future right-wing government led by Netanyahu would increase, pushing for Palestinian departure from Gaza and the West Bank and for Israeli sovereignty over the territories.

Ben-Gvir expressed his desire for Netanyahu to remain prime minister, calling him a "leader" he prefers "a million times over" Gadi Eisenkot. He stated that for Netanyahu to be a strong right-wing leader, he needs Ben-Gvir as a senior minister in a full right-wing government. "If Israel wants to continue to live and not be destroyed, we must conquer all of Gaza," Ben-Gvir asserted, adding that Gaza could become a "Riviera" if Hamas operatives were removed. However, the article noted that Ben-Gvir did not provide a clear explanation of which countries would accept large numbers of Palestinians or how their departure could be considered voluntary.

Regarding the West Bank, Ben-Gvir said he would encourage millions of Palestinians to leave, emphasizing "voluntary emigration, not expelling anyone." He also called for disarming the Palestinian Authority, claiming they are training for attacks like October 7th. Ben-Gvir also discussed his views on the Temple Mount, stating he restored justice by allowing Jews to pray there, ending what he called an "apartheid" where Jews could not pray. He also reiterated his admiration for the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, while distancing himself from some of his more extreme views, and mentioned his past association with Baruch Goldstein.

TIME also noted Ben-Gvir's role in shifting blame for the October 7th failures from Netanyahu to the security and intelligence apparatus. Ben-Gvir stated that while Netanyahu made mistakes, the intelligence failures were the primary cause. He also mentioned his past views on expelling Arabs, contrasting them with his current stance that some Arabs who recognize Israel as a Jewish state can remain.