Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Thursday, claiming that during his own government only four unauthorized Bedouin homes were demolished in the Negev, while Ben Gvir has demolished 5,700 this year. 'In our government we will stop this,' Abbas said. Ben Gvir responded: 'I will continue to destroy.'
On Thursday, Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas escalated his feud with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over demolition policy in the Negev, accusing Ben Gvir of demolishing 5,700 unauthorized Bedouin homes this year compared to just four under his own government. Ben Gvir responded that he will continue to demolish structures, doubling down on his record. The exchange, which unfolded this afternoon, marks the latest chapter in a bitter political dispute over the pace and scope of demolitions in Bedouin communities.
Throughout Wednesday, The Zioneer reported a sequence of salvos between the two politicians. Abbas first posted a social media poll asking followers to choose who is right on demolition numbers (Wed Jul 15, 11:26 Jerusalem). He then told the Knesset plenum that only four homes were demolished per year under the previous change government, compared to 5,700 under Ben Gvir (Wed Jul 15, 11:26 Jerusalem). Abbas later directly accused Ben Gvir of overseeing the demolitions and vowed to stop them if his party returns to power (Wed Jul 15, 11:26 Jerusalem). Ben Gvir responded by telling opposition lawmakers that he has demolished 5,700 homes in the past year and claimed that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara belongs in prison (Wed Jul 15, 11:26 Jerusalem). The demoninations have remained consistent across all versions of the story, with both sides citing the same headline figure.
As The Zioneer reported on Jun 24, Ben Gvir had earlier pledged to intensify demolitions, telling a local government conference that he had already razed 5,700 structures. The figure has been a centerpiece of his tenure. On Wednesday night, MK Yasser Houjirat (Ra'am) defended Mansour Abbas, saying he halted all illegal building demolitions during his leadership. The broader context includes ongoing security concerns in the Negev, as highlighted by a video circulating on social media depicting gunfire from Rahat, which The Zioneer covered on Jun 14.
The figure of 5,700 demolitions remains unverified by independent sources; both sides cite it as a point of contention. No independent audit of demolition numbers has been published, and the exact count of unauthorized structures razed during the past year is not yet confirmed by an official body.
6 developments
- DevelopingBen Gvir pledges to demolish unauthorized Bedouin homes, claims 5,700 razed in past year
- DevelopingBen Gvir confronts left-wing activist at Knesset hearing, threatens demolition
- Developing1,500 Bedouin residents protest home demolitions in Be'er Sheva
- StrongBen Gvir demands PM let IDF continue demolitions, Hezbollah eliminations
Source and signal
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