Far-Right Ben-Gvir to Be Israel’s National Security Minister

Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar ben Gvir (L) and Ofir Sofer ( R) during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Israeli parliament the 25th Knesset in Jerusalem, 15 November 2022. (Reuters)
Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar ben Gvir (L) and Ofir Sofer ( R) during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Israeli parliament the 25th Knesset in Jerusalem, 15 November 2022. (Reuters)
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Far-Right Ben-Gvir to Be Israel’s National Security Minister

Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar ben Gvir (L) and Ofir Sofer ( R) during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Israeli parliament the 25th Knesset in Jerusalem, 15 November 2022. (Reuters)
Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar ben Gvir (L) and Ofir Sofer ( R) during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Israeli parliament the 25th Knesset in Jerusalem, 15 November 2022. (Reuters)

Extremist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a long record of anti-Arab rhetoric and stunts, will become Israel's next minister of national security, according to the first of what are expected to be several coalition deals struck by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. 

Likud announced the agreement with Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party on Friday. 

Negotiations with three other potential far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are ongoing. If successful, Netanyahu would return to the prime minister's office and preside over the most right-wing and religious government in Israel's history. 

The awarding of the sensitive role to Ben-Gvir raises concerns of a further escalation in Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Ben-Gvir and his allies hope to grant immunity to Israeli soldiers who shoot at Palestinians, deport rival lawmakers and impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of attacks on Jews. 

Ben-Gvir is the disciple of a racist rabbi, Meir Kahane, who was banned from Parliament and whose Kach party was branded a terrorist group by the United States before he was assassinated in New York in 1990. 

Ahead of Israel's Nov. 1 election, Ben-Gvir grabbed headlines for his anti-Palestinian speeches and stunts, including brandishing a pistol and encouraging police to open fire on Palestinian stone-throwers in a tense Jerusalem neighborhood. 

Before becoming a lawyer and entering politics, he was convicted of offenses that include inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. 

In his new role, he would be in charge of the police, among other things, enabling him to implement some of the hard-line policies against the Palestinians he has advocated for years. 

As part of the coalition deal, the current Ministry of Internal Security would be renamed Ministry of National Security and would be given expanded powers, Likud said Friday. 

As head of the ministry, Ben-Gvir would oversee the police and the paramilitary border police who operate alongside Israeli soldiers in Palestinian population centers. 

Likud lawmaker Yariv Levin praised the agreement, which was signed Thursday, as “the first agreement on the way to establishing a stable right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu." 

Ben-Gvir first entered parliament in 2021, after his Jewish Power party merged with the Religious Zionism party. Ben-Gvir's closest political ally, Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich, is conducting separate negotiations with Likud, which emerged as the largest party in the elections. 

Netanyahu has balked at some of the demands, such as Smotrich seeking the defense ministry. Talks currently focus on the terms under which Smotrich would become finance minister. 



Russian Delegation Arrives for Talks with US in Istanbul 

Members of the media wait outside the residence of the US Consul General during a meeting between US and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Türkiye, February 27, 2025. (Reuters)
Members of the media wait outside the residence of the US Consul General during a meeting between US and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Türkiye, February 27, 2025. (Reuters)
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Russian Delegation Arrives for Talks with US in Istanbul 

Members of the media wait outside the residence of the US Consul General during a meeting between US and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Türkiye, February 27, 2025. (Reuters)
Members of the media wait outside the residence of the US Consul General during a meeting between US and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Türkiye, February 27, 2025. (Reuters)

A Russian delegation arrived on Thursday at the US Consul General's residence in Istanbul for Russia-US talks aimed at resolving disputes over the work of their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow.

While the scope of the talks is narrow and will not include Ukraine, they will provide a test of both sides' seriousness about repairing their relations and working to end the war.

The meeting follows a phone call between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Feb. 12 and a high-level diplomatic meeting in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18.

In office for just over five weeks, Trump has overturned the policy of his predecessor Joe Biden, who sought to isolate and punish Russia for waging war against Ukraine.

Ukraine and its European allies are worried that Trump's push to end the conflict swiftly could lead to a deal with Moscow that sidelines them and undermines their security.

The US State Department said Thursday's talks, which will be led by working level officials, will not include any discussions on Ukraine or political or security issues, but will still be seen as a test of Moscow's intent.

"To be clear, there are no political or security issues on the agenda. Ukraine is not on the agenda," a State Department spokesperson said.

"The constructiveness of these talks will become apparent very quickly; either issues will get resolved or they won’t. We will know soon if Russia is really willing to engage in good faith."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the talks would focus on creating better conditions for Russian diplomats in the United States and their US counterparts in Russia, after a series of rows over staffing levels and embassy properties.

The outcome "will show how quickly and effectively we can move," Lavrov said.

Trump has said he wants to move quickly towards a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Putin this week tempered expectations of rapid progress, saying nothing could be achieved without restoring trust between Russia and the United States.