Far-right extremist to be Israel’s national security minister

Appointment of Itamar Ben-Gvir raises fears of further escalation in Israeli-Palestinian tensions

The extremist Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a long record of anti-Arab rhetoric and stunts, will become the country's next minister of national security, according to the first of what are expected to be several coalition deals struck by the former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.

Likud announced an agreement with Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party on Friday. Negotiations with three other potential far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are continuing. If successful, Netanyahu would return to the prime minister's office and preside over the most rightwing and religious government in Israel's history.