Itamar Ben Gvir Fires Back at Amit Segal Over Government Criticism

Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of Otzma Yehudit and Israeli minister, sharply criticized political commentator Amit Segal following Segal's remarks that Ben Gvir should not be part of the next government because he "harms the State of Israel." Ben Gvir accused Segal of echoing longstanding left-wing attacks against right-wing leaders and policies, comparing Segal's criticism to similar claims made against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Likud leader Menachem Begin. He wrote that this narrative has been used by the left for nearly 50 years to delegitimize right-wing figures.

Ben Gvir further argued that such criticism also targets Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and Israel's military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. He referenced Democratic Party leader Yair Golan's criticism of Netanyahu following an attack in Syria as part of this pattern. Addressing Segal directly, Ben Gvir stated he would not change his approach despite the ongoing campaign against him, emphasizing that his political actions have created deterrence and changed the reality in ways that the "establishment right" has not dared to do since 1977.

The confrontation highlights the deep divisions within Israeli politics over the role of far-right figures like Ben Gvir in government and ongoing debates about national security and settlement policies. Ben Gvir's response signals his intent to maintain his political course despite media opposition as the next government formation approaches.