Israeli far-right ministers intensify rhetoric ahead of elections

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has posted a series of social-media videos targeting Palestinian prisoners, including an AI-generated clip that depicts inmates on a conveyor-belt-style processing line. The video, which was removed after attracting more than four million views, was accompanied by a caption reading, “We promised – we delivered.” Ben Gvir, who also promoted a law expanding the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism, has repeatedly called for prison conditions to be reduced to the “minimum required by law.”

With two months until the election, Israel’s far-right bloc is becoming increasingly crowded as small parties compete for the 3.25% vote share needed to enter parliament. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has highlighted settlement expansion in the West Bank and launched a “Yes. Let’s Judaize!” campaign aimed at altering the demographic balance in the Negev and Galilee. Retired brigadier general Ofer Winter introduced the “Your People Israel” party, stating that a Palestinian state will never be established and that the Gaza solution is “emigration.”

Winter’s running mate, Arab Christian activist Yoseph Haddad, expressed a desire for Arab representation that supports Israel rather than Palestinian factions. Other far-right figures include Avi Maoz of the “Noam” party, which opposes LGBTQ events and secular policies, and Moshe Feiglin’s “Identity” party, which advocates for the destruction of Gaza and voluntary Palestinian emigration. Netanyahu has urged these parties to unite to avoid vote fragmentation that could jeopardize the right-wing’s electoral prospects.

The heightened rhetoric reflects growing competition among right-wing factions as they seek to secure parliamentary representation before the upcoming vote.