Israel’s Ben-Gvir tasked with cracking down on Palestinian ‘incitement’

By Zain Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday assigned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir with cracking down on Palestinian “incitement” against Israelis.

Speaking following a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said he agreed with Ben-Gvir on forming a task force to crack down on “incitement” by Palestinians.

"We are working with double the vigor against incitement," Netanyahu said in statements cited by The Times of Israel newspaper.

He said Ben-Gvir "will receive reinforcements of investigators, police officers and prosecutors," with the work to be coordinated with the Shin Bet security agency, the military and the National Cyber Directorate.

Palestinians fear that giving further powers to Ben-Gvir will lead to further restrictions against them.

Ben-Gvir holds far-right views on the Palestinians and has called for their displacement. He has repeatedly joined Israeli settlers in storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar