Itamar Ben-Gvir

About this episode

The episode discusses Itamar Ben-Gvir's controversial actions and his political background in the context of Israeli politics.

Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has received international condemnation after he posted a video showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces. His actions also drew rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were "not in line with Israel's values". But the incident is not the first time Ben-Gvir has attracted widespread criticism. Born in 1976 in Jerusalem, Itamar Ben-Gvir became radicalised during the First Palestinian Intifada against Israeli occupation. He became a follower of the far right politician Meir Kahane and was frequently arrested for various petty crimes. Unable to join the Israeli Army due to his criminal record, he later became a lawyer where he notoriously defended Jewish arsonists who had set fire to a Palestinian home killing two young parents and their 18-month-old son. In 2021 Ben-Gvir won a seat in the Knesset and following a period of political instability where Benjamin Netanyahu turned to two far right parties to form a coalition to form a government, Itamar Ben-Gvir became National Security…

People in this episode

Guests: Leonie Fleishmann, Ruth Margalit, Dvir Kariv

Topics covered

• Israeli politics
• national security
• human rights
• far-right movements
• international relations

Keywords

• Itamar Ben-Gvir
• Benjamin Netanyahu
• Israeli politics
• human rights
• Gaza
• Knesset
• far-right

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times, New Yorker

Places: Jerusalem

More episodes of Profile

• Harry Kane · June 13, 2026 · 15 min
• Maggie O'Farrell · June 6, 2026 · 15 min
• Rhun ap Iorwerth · May 23, 2026 · 15 min
• Christopher Harborne · May 16, 2026 · 14 min
• Jamie Oliver · May 9, 2026 · 15 min
• Emily Thornberry · May 2, 2026 · 15 min