Itamar Ben-Gvir

Netanyahu under fire before primaries, Ben-Gvir makes explosive statements on Gaza

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs - the top stories, clear and concise.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during a debate in the Knesset plenum earlier this year. Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, and Ben-Gvir embody fear Zionism; they do not speak for all Zionists, says the writer.
Otzma Yehudit party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, together with members of his party, attends a supporters’ conference ahead of the upcoming general elections in Petah Tikva, central Israel, August 16, 2026.

Israel should kill ‘30-40’ Gazans every night, Ben-Gvir says on ex-hostage’s podcast

An Orthodox Jewish man faces the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City, March 12, 2026

Jewish men permitted to pray on Temple Mount with prayer books for first time, Ben-Gvir confirms

Yoav Segalovitz, former deputy public security minister attends Internal security committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on November 8, 2021

How a Jewish ex-police probes chief could revive Mansour Abbas as Israeli Arab kingmaker - analysis


Eight ministers, lawmakers wanted to leave Netanyahu's Likud for Otzma Yehudit, Ben-Gvir reveals

"They see Otzma's polls, they saw how strong we are, and they wanted to join," Ben-Gvir elaborated.

The minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir

The secret Smotrich kept from his wife: Israel was going to war with Iran - interview

He voted against the January 2025 hostage deal, his own voters demanded he resign, and Ben-Gvir walked out. Smotrich stayed silent for five months. In an interview with the Post, he explained why.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with 'Jerusalem Post' Editor in Chief Zvika Klein, August 12, 2026.

WATCH: 'I know how to act responsibly': Smotrich outlines election strategy, plan to draft haredim

“I think that right now the Religious Zionist public can and should run on its own as a big, strong, significant party,” Smotrich told the Post.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

IDF reverses evacuation of Palestinians amid settler chaos in West Bank's Kusra

Settler extremists accused of cutting electricity, water to Palestinian homes • Locals describe feeling helpless as Ben-Gvir says some settlers "must be stopped"

Footage showing extremist settlers throwing rocks in the West Bank village of Kusra, August 12, 2026.

Israel's failure to restrain violent Jewish extremists in West Bank reaches new low - analysis

How much longer before the IDF entirely loses the power to enforce order on violent Jewish extremists?

The damage following an attack by Israeli settlers in the village of Tell, near the West Bank city of Nablus, July 25, 2026.

Haredi protest concludes after blocking Highway 4 near Bnei Brak over draft dodger detention

Shas MK Moshe Abutbul described the draft dodger as a "yeshiva guy" who approached the police to assist in an ongoing investigation, demanding that such procedures be changed to avoid arrests.

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters block Highway 4 over detention of draft dodger, August 12, 2026.

Israel Katz orders IDF probe into alleged mistreatment of wounded soldiers at Rambam hospital

Hadash called Katz's urging for an investigation "a dangerous exploitation of the authority of the state and the military establishment for the purpose of political and racist persecution."

Defense Minister Israel Katz attends a state ceremony for fallen Israeli soldiers, at Mount Herzl Military cemetery, in Jerusalem, March 6, 2025

Jordan condemns Israeli policies in Al-Aqsa, Temple Mount, calls to end 'escalation'

Arab and Muslim officials meeting in Amman condemned what they described as Israeli escalation in Jerusalem, according to Jordan's Foreign Ministry.

A JEWISH man prays during a visit to the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Old City, earlier this month.

Netanyahu tells High Court there are no grounds to fire Ben-Gvir

“I congratulate the prime minister on his clear response to the criminal attorney-general,” said Ben-Gvir. “Deep-state officials have no authority whatsoever to remove ministers from office."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 16, 2026.

Yair Golan isn’t democracy’s defender if he neglects its norms – opinion

The leader of the Democrats Party needs to show a willingness to include those who oppose him if he wishes to uphold his motto

hDemocrats Party chair Yair Golan speaks to the press in Tel Aviv in July 2026.