In recent days, Israeli government hardliners Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have been making provocative statements and taking controversial actions that have sparked international outcry.
Ben Gvir, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, recently visited the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, a contentious area at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His presence at the site, which has been the center of a long-standing legal battle between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents, was seen as an escalation of tensions.
Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, has also been making headlines for his extreme views and actions. He recently called for the establishment of an Israeli theocracy, a move that has been met with criticism from both within Israel and from the international community.
These actions have raised concerns about the direction that the Israeli government is headed in under the leadership of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has been criticized for forming a coalition government with these right-wing parties in order to maintain power.
International leaders have condemned the actions of Ben Gvir and Smotrich, calling for restraint and a return to dialogue in order to de-escalate tensions in the region. The United Nations has also expressed concern about the situation, with a spokesperson stating that the recent provocations are only serving to further inflame an already volatile situation.
As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes are on the Israeli government to see how they will respond to the international outcry and whether they will take steps to calm tensions and avoid further escalation in the region.
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