Michael Ben-Ari

JudaismPolitical FigureActivistJewish SupremacismUltra-Zionism

Aug 25

michael ben ari.jpg — **Current Status**: Israeli politician/former member of the Knesset/Co-founder of Otzma LeYisrael

**DOB:** 12 October 1963

**Nationality:** Israeli

**Location:** Karnei Shomron settlement, Occupied Palestine
**Ideology/Affiliation:** Jewish Kahanism/Jewish Fundamentalism/
Ultra-nationalism

**Type of Leader:** Politician/former MK/founder of far-right Otzma LeYisrael party

Biography

Michael Ben-Ari is a radical right-wing Jewish extremist, and a disciple of Rabbi Meir Kahane - the founder of the banned Kach party. An Israeli Knesset member (MK) who holds a Ph.D. degree, Ben-Ari was formerly a rabbi teacher in two Yeshivas- Darchei No'am in Petah Tikva and the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in Giv'at Shmuel. From 1982 to 1986, he served in the Nahal settlement at Neve Dekalim as part of his army duty. Ben-Ari was Meir Kahane's first prominent disciple to be elected to the Knesset. In the 2003 elections, he ran with the Herut - The National Movement party, and in the 2006 elections, he ran with the Jewish National Front party, however, he was defeated both times as both parties failed to cross the political threshold required for election.

Ben-Ari succeeded in integrating himself into Israel's political arena, despite his radical and, at times, genocidal remarks against Palestinians. A case in point is his statement to a group of right-wing protestors in 2012 that there are no innocent people in Gaza, and that the Strip should be “erased”. In March 2019, Israel’s supreme court banned Ben-Ari from running in the April 2019 elections citing racist remarks he made about Palestinian citizens of Israel. In August 2021, Ben-Ari and another Jewish extremist - Baruch Marzel (profiled here on EMAN) had their Facebook and Instagram accounts suspended, with the social media giant citing their support for the banned Kach party, as well as their designation as “dangerous individuals” in Israel as reasons behind their account suspensions.

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Michael Ben-Ari

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Evidence of Hate Speech/Incitement:

May 2018: Ben-Ari was condemned for remarks he made regarding Palestinian citizens of Israel residents, which Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit described as “racist incitement” and “pushing for a violent renunciation of the Arab population's rights.” In one of his speeches, Ben-Ari described Palestinians as “enemies from within.”

November 2012: In a right-wing march in the streets of Tel Aviv, Ben-Ari, in reference to the number of Gazans civilians killed during the 2012 Gaza-Israel conflict, stated to a crowd cheering him on: “Why is it only 200 flights and 15 killed? We want 15 flights and 2,000 killed!”. He further added that there are no innocent people in Gaza and that the strip should erased and turned into a graveyard.

January 2011: Ben-Ari referred to Left-wing Israelis as "germs", "enemies of Israel," and "traitors who must be punished at all costs,". In an audiotape obtained by Ynet, Ben-Ari can be heard saying: “I see the people from Peace Now; they each have a private car. Every clerk has the finest equipment. Who funds all of this? The greatest Israel haters are funding this. If we'll have to enact a law in the Knesset to eradicate this dangerous enemy, that is what we'll do. Such a germ can destroy Israeli society. This enemy threatens the state's existence.”

November 2010: On Rabbi Meir Kahane's 20th anniversary, Ben-Ari referred to former U.S. President Barack Obama as a “hostile enemy of Israel and the Jewish people,” and affirmed that if Netanyahu reinstated the freeze in Judea and Samaria due to Obama's pressure, his party would protest and put pressure on Lieberman and Habayit Hayehudi to leave the government.

Video Links:

Far right MK Michael Ben-Ari chanting to radical Jewish crowds in the streets of Tel Aviv that there are no innocent people in Gaza, and that Gaza should be turned into a graveyard

Extremist Individuals - Judaism