Lapid mocks Ben-Gvir’s plan to carry out major West Bank offensive 

Israeli opposition leader MK Yair Lapid on Friday evening mocked Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for asking police to prepare for a major offensive against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

At the scene of a ramming attack that left two Israeli settlers dead and others wounded near the illegal Israeli settlement of Ramot in occupied East Jerusalem, Ben-Gvir spoke to the media and was heckled by far-right settlers.

The Palestinian attacker, who was executed in his car, was reported by Israeli officials as being mentally ill.

Ben-Gvir, according to The Jerusalem Post, instructed the Israel police to prepare plans for a major offensive in East Jerusalem, starting on Sunday, to crack down on “terrorists”.

On Twitter, Lapid wrote: “The Minister of Tiktok and pita [bread] ‘ordered’ to start the Defensive Shield 2 operation. No cabinet, no assessment of the situation, no coordination between the security forces.”

Lapid added: “If it were not dangerous, it would be ridiculous. Just like him.”

Hebrew media reported a senior Israeli official saying: “Decisions of such a scale are not made in statements by one minister or another on a sidewalk at the scene of an attack.”

READ: Ben-Gvir orders police to prepare for major offensive against Jerusalemite

The official, who was reported by public broadcaster Kan, indicated that such an operation must be discussed by the cabinet before being decided upon.

Israeli journalist Attila Somfalvi added: “Ben Gvir made a fool of himself. Let’s say he really wants Operation Defensive Shield 2, if the government does not carry out the operation, Ben-Gvir will not become a mere mockery of the government, but rather he has to resign.”

Somfalvi asked: “If you announce a decision and it is not implemented, what exactly are you? What is your power, your influence and your performance? Your credibility is over.”

Several other Israeli officials and journalists also mocked or harshly criticised him for his empty promises and remarks.

Israel’s newly appointed National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]