Israeli president: Extremist MP Ben Gvir raises the world’s concern and will create many problems

The Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog said on Wednesday that “the whole world is concerned” about the far-right stances of MK Itamar Ben Gvir, local media reported.

This comes as Ben Gvir appears to be on the cusp of becoming a minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition government.

Herzog’s statement was broadcast by a microphone that the Israeli president apparently thought was off, during his consultations with a hardline political party about the next government that former Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to lead after his right-wing coalition won last week’s elections.

“You have a partner that the whole world around us is concerned about,” Herzog said over the microphone of Ben Gvir at the end of the meeting… I told him this too… This isn’t really for publication… I don’t want to cause trouble”.

“You will have a problem with the Temple Mount… This is a critical issue”.

Ben Gvir, who was convicted in 2007 of racial incitement against Arabs and support for a group deemed a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, supports Jewish prayers on the Temple Mount, defying the historical status quo.

The ultra-nationalist politician, who wants to become Minister of Homeland Security, has alarmed Palestinians and Arabs, who fear his joining the government will exacerbate tensions in the Middle East.

Ben Gvir has been credited with garnering support for Netanyahu’s far-right bloc in the Knesset.

The new government is likely to be one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history.

Herzog’s office later said the president had discussed these concerns with Ben Gvir directly.

A spokesman for Ben Gvir didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, but according to local media, Ben Gvir said he had had “many productive conversations” with the president and that he intended to explain the positions of his Jewish Power party.

The President’s consultations with the political parties will continue in the coming days.

His office said he would assign a candidate to form the government on Sunday.

Last week’s elections saw the end of a political stalemate after the fifth election in less than four years, with Netanyahu’s Likud and smaller far-right and religious parties winning 64 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, giving Netanyahu a strong majority in parliament and making it easier to form a government.