The United States on Thursday criticized as “repugnant” the appearance of Israel’s hardline firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, a likely member of Bibi Netanyahu’s new coalition government, at a memorial to Meir Kahane.
“Celebrating the legacy of a terrorist organization is abhorrent. There is no other word for it,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said when asked about the issue at his press briefing.
Washington remains “concerned, as we’ve said before, by the legacy of Kahane Chai (the political party founded by Meir Kahane, who was assassinated in 1990) and the continued use of rhetoric among violent right-wing extremists,” Price added as he urged Israeli groups to “maintain calm” and not exacerbate tensions.
Known for his anti-Arab diatribes, Ben-Gvir is in prime position to demand a coveted cabinet seat in a prospective government led by former premier Netanyahu, and may well secure a portfolio relating to the simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At the ceremony held Thursday in Yerushalayim, according to the Israeli press Ben-Gvir said he believed Kahane’s “main characteristic was love … love of Israel without compromises or any other considerations.”
He was reportedly jeered at the event after saying “I do not support the expulsion of all Arabs.”
Ben-Gvir draws his ideology from that of Kahane, a former Israeli MP whose Kach party was banned in Israel after the 1994 murder of 29 Palestinians praying in Chevron by one of his supporters, Baruch Goldstein. The United States designated Kach offshoot Kahane Chai a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. – i24 News
What’s repugnant is for the U.S. to call Kahane Chai a terrorist organization. We may not all agree with the tactics of R. Meir Kahane hy”d but he was no terrorist. On the contrary, he spent his life defending Jews who were targets of anti semitism and terrorism.
That’s the only issue in the world! I’m glad the U.S. is on top of things!
There’s no rime in America.
There’s no issue at the borders.
Crime is in check.
Gas prices and mortgage rates are where the Americans need them to be in order for prosperity to thrive.
Inflation is at an all time low!
Russia hasn’t decimated a entire nation – unprovoked!
The Chinese and North Korean leaders have been model leaders.
Syria and Iran have become peaceful nations.
The Palestinians have ceased their terror atrocities!
The only issue threatening world peace is that Ben Gvir went to a Kahana memorial!
As long as they say the same when Abbas visits Arafat’s grave on the day Arafat died. One terrorist condemnation requires another.
“Celebrating the legacy of a terrorist organization is abhorrent. There is no other word for it,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
In response to Mr. Price’s statement, Ben Gvir released a statement of his own on Friday saying as follows: “If Mr. Price and the Biden administration have a problem with me honoring the late Meir Kahana, who never killed anyone, and who never ordered a terrorist attack on anyone, then why they don’t they have a problem when PA President Mahmoud Abbas pays homage to mass murdering terrorists, and honors them?!”
Ben Gvir added: “Mr. Price, and his colleagues in the Biden administration, need to enage in some deep introspection to clear out the nasty cobwebs from their twisted and crooked hearts.”
This is fairly on point. Username doesn’t check out in this case.
Ben Gvir is the kind of Prime Minister Israel needs, just like Donald Trump. He does what’s rights and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. Hope Israel will also have reelections via Quantum Voting, done in the privacy of their homes and Ben Gvir will win.
That’s like Israel criticizing the US for flying the Confederate flag. It’s none of their business.