An Israeli minister's message to Netanyahu: “You must order targeted assassinations.” The reason for Itamar Ben-Gvir's anger

The Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, a prominent figure of the extreme right, called on Monday for the arrest of the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the assassination of senior Palestinian officials if the UN Security Council decides in favor of a Palestinian state, writes AFP, taken by Agerpres.

“If they accelerate the recognition of this fabricated state, if the UN recognizes it, (…) you must order targeted assassinations of senior officials of the Palestinian Authority, who are terrorists in every way (and) order the arrest of Abu Mazen” (Abbas's nom de guerre), Ben-Gvir told reporters, addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly.

The UN Security Council is to vote Monday evening, in New York, on an American draft resolution that supports the peace plan for Gaza presented by American President Donald Trump. This plan envisages, in the long term, the possibility of creating a sovereign and independent Palestinian state, a prospect that the Netanyahu government strongly opposes.

Itamar Ben-Gvir is known for his virulently anti-Palestinian statements and actions. For example, on November 3 the National Security Committee of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) voted in favor of a bill that would introduce the death penalty for the perpetrators of “terrorist” attacks, a measure supported by Itamar Ben Gvir.

The commission approved an amendment to the criminal code, which will now be sent to parliament for a first reading vote. A law is passed in Israel after a third reading vote. According to the Israeli hostage mediator, Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports this initiative.

In an explanatory note of the commission, it is stated that “its objective is to eliminate terrorism at the root and to create a strong deterrent.” The text states that “a terrorist found guilty of a crime motivated by racism or hatred (…) must be sentenced to death”, adding that this punishment will not be “optional”.

The bill was introduced by a member of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party of Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir.