Ben Gvir visits Bir Hadaj in the occupied Negev amid residents' protest

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir toured the village of Bir Hadaj in the Negev, including residents' lands, amid protests and a verbal confrontation with a resident who called him a "failed minister." The head of the local committee accused Ben Gvir of supporting home demolition policies. The visit comes ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, 2026.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, toured the village of Bir Hadaj in the occupied Negev, including residents' lands. The visit was met with protests from villagers, and a verbal confrontation broke out between Ben Gvir and a resident who called him a "failed minister" and held him responsible for the decline in security in the Arab community, accusing him of using field visits for political purposes. The head of the local committee in Bir Hadaj, Salim al-Danfiri, said the visit "will not affect the residents," and accused the minister of supporting home demolition policies in the village, affirming the residents' attachment to their lands. The visit comes amid ongoing tension between the Israeli government and the Arab community in the Negev, particularly unrecognized Bedouin communities facing demolitions, evictions, and infrastructure shortages. It also coincides with the approaching Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, 2026, where Ben Gvir and his allies on the Israeli right have intensified their activities related to Palestinian and Arab community issues.