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Itamar Ben Gvir Overstates Illegal Home Demolitions in Negev Compared to Previous Government
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir claimed a dramatic rise in illegal home demolitions in the Negev compared to the previous government, but official data shows the increase is significant yet far less extreme than stated.
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What happened
- 01Ben Gvir claimed only four illegal homes were demolished under the previous government, but data shows 2,862 structures were demolished in 2022.
- 02In 2025, 5,742 illegal structures were demolished in the Negev, close to Ben Gvir's stated 5,750.
- 03Only 380 of the 2022 demolitions were residential homes, not just four as claimed.
- 04Ben Gvir's office said their figures refer to inhabited homes, excluding unoccupied structures, causing data mismatches.
- 05Demolitions have increased under Ben Gvir, but the gap with the previous government is much smaller than he asserted.
- 06Obtaining legal building permits in the Negev takes years, complicating the situation for those affected by demolitions.
In 2025, about 5,742 demolitions occurred, while in 2022 under the prior government, 2,862 structures were demolished, including 380 homes. Ben Gvir's figures conflated different categories, leading to inaccurate comparisons.
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