Itamar Ben Gvir, from pariah to essential figure of the Israeli right

There is something electric about Itamar Ben Gvir. When the Minister of National Security enters the room at Leonardo Plaza in Netanya, techno music punctuates the cheers. Over his bodyguards, he shakes hands with ecstatic old ladies, smiles with the ease of a touring star, waves to the teenagers who dance on chairs and chant his name. More than 400 people cram into this 250-seat room.

Among them, Anaël and Mikaël, 34 years old. The couple supports Benjamin Netanyahu, but is counting on Itamar Ben Gvir to push him further. “Bibi” – the nickname of Benyamin Netanyahu – has the stature of the leader, they explain. All he needs is the “madness” of his minister. The death penalty for the perpetrators of attacks, weapons for civilians: “Each seat won by the Jewish Force will force the Prime Minister to harden his line,” assures Anaël, who regained his weapon carry the same morning.

For a long time, Itamar Ben Gvir was…