Itamar Ben Gvir Overstates Illegal Home Demolitions in Negev Compared to Previous Government

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, claimed in a July 2026 radio interview that while the previous government demolished only four illegal homes in the Negev throughout its entire term, his tenure saw 5,750 demolitions in just one year. However, an investigation into official data reveals this claim is inaccurate. According to the Ministry of National Security's records, 5,742 demolitions of illegal structures were recorded in the Negev in 2025, closely matching Ben Gvir's figure. Yet, in 2022, the last full year under the previous government, 2,862 illegal structures were demolished, far exceeding the claimed four homes.

Ben Gvir's statement conflated "homes" with "structures," which include fences, tents, and other non-residential buildings. Data from the Southern Coordination Administration shows that in 2022, 380 of the demolished structures were residential homes, still significantly more than four. In 2024, nearly twice as many residential homes (736) were demolished, indicating an increase under Ben Gvir but not to the extent he suggested.

Ben Gvir's office responded that their figures refer specifically to inhabited homes, excluding unoccupied structures, but this explanation does not resolve the inconsistency, as it mixes different categories of demolitions between the two periods. The overall data confirms a substantial rise in demolitions during Ben Gvir's term, but the gap is much smaller than he claimed. The source of the "four homes" figure remains unclear, possibly linked to a parliamentary statement by Mansour Abbas, which Ben Gvir cited.

The investigation also highlighted that many demolitions are self-executed by residents to avoid state enforcement costs, and that obtaining legal building permits in the Negev can take an average of three years, creating challenges for those affected by demolitions. Ben Gvir affirmed his commitment to intensifying enforcement against illegal construction in the Negev to restore governance.

In summary, while Ben Gvir has increased demolitions of illegal buildings in the Negev, his public comparison with the previous government is misleading due to mixing different data categories and understating past demolitions.