Another confrontation between Ben Gvir and the mayor of Rahat: "Start looking for cardboard boxes to pack"
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Rahat Mayor Talal Al-Krenawi clashed following the demolition of 80 homes near the city. Ben Gvir published a post attacking the mayor and warning that enforcement actions would continue. Al-Krenawi responded with a counterattack, calling on Ben Gvir to start packing his belongings from the office, ahead of his departure from office on October 27.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Rahat Mayor Talal Al-Krenawi clashed today (Wednesday) following the demolition of 80 homes near the city. Ben Gvir published a post on social media this morning, in which he attacked the mayor who opposed the demolitions, and warned that he intends to continue enforcement operations in the area. "I heard that the mayor of Rahat didn't really like the fact that the governance bulldozers demolished 80 homes built illegally near his city," Ben Gvir wrote. "So Mr. Al-Krenawi, you better get used to it. As long as I am the National Security Minister, you will hear the noise of the governance bulldozers a lot more! The days when anyone built wherever they wanted and however they wanted are over. The law is not a recommendation, and governance is here to stay." The mayor did not stay silent and responded with his own attack: "Ben Gvir threatens me and announces he will continue to demolish, and I tell him... start looking for cardboard boxes to pack your personal files and documents from the National Security Ministry office on October 27, 2026." This is another confrontation in a series of sharp exchanges between the two in recent years, including a physical altercation during a previous visit by Ben Gvir to Rahat.