War in the Middle East
Israel’s Police Minister for Gaza Settlements
Israel’s Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is pursuing the dream of a “Greater Israel”. photo
© Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Pool/dpa
Returning to the Holy Land and achieving voluntary emigration for the residents of Gaza – Israel’s Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sees this as the only true solution.
According to media reports, several ministers from the right-wing national and right-wing extremist parties in the coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the establishment of Jewish settlements in Israel during a demonstration Gaza Strip demanded. They therefore took part in a rally in Sderot, southern Israel, near the Gaza Strip, where several thousand representatives of the extreme right had gathered.
“We must return to Gaza now,” Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly said. This is the only true solution. “We are returning home to the holy land. And secondly, we must encourage voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza.”
Parts of the Israeli right are pursuing the dream of “Greater Israel”, which refers to an Israeli state including the Palestinian territories – i.e. the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The divine promise mentioned in the Bible to give the land of Canaan to the people of Israel serves as justification.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who is part of Netanyahu’s Likud party, also reportedly called for repopulating the Gaza Strip with security forces and settlers to “preserve the security gains for which our soldiers lost their lives.” This will “eradicate the shame” associated with the abandonment of Israel’s Gaza settlements in 2005.