Ben-Gvir seeks to establish own militia: Israeli defense minister

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday that far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir seeks to establish his own militia.

Ben-Gvir, the leader of the Jewish Strength Party, will be Israel's national security minister in the upcoming government under a coalition agreement struck with Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Ben-Gvir must not be allowed to form a militia for himself,” Gantz said in a speech at a conference organized by the Israeli Institute for Democracy.

“This is a security mistake that could cost human lives,” he warned.

In an interview with Israeli Army radio on Sunday, Ben-Gvir called for changing the shooting regulations in the occupied West Bank to include anyone carrying stones or Molotov cocktails.

“These instructions should not include Israeli settlers, but only those who derive from national foundations," he said, referring to the Palestinians.

But the outgoing defense minister hit out at the proposal.

“The irresponsible talk about changing the procedures for opening fire by politicians who have not spent even one minute on the battlefield, who have no experience in the matter, and that it will not be under their authority at all - is disturbing,” Gantz tweeted.

Ben-Gvir had never served in the Israeli army for a full term.

Ben-Gvir holds far-right views on the Palestinians. He has repeatedly joined Israeli settlers in storming the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.

He had previously called for the displacement of Palestinians and caused a wave of violence in East Jerusalem after setting up an office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

Earlier this month, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a leaked audio that "the whole world is worried" about the far-right views of Ben-Gvir.

Netanyahu is currently in the process of consultation with right-wing parties in order to form the upcoming Israeli government, as his coalition secured a simple parliamentary majority that allows him to form the government.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report