Ben-Gvir defends confronting flotilla detainees after criticism from FM Sa’ar

Responding directly to the foreign minister, Ben-Gvir accused Sa’ar of showing weakness toward Israel’s enemies.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended his confrontation with detained Gaza flotilla protesters during remarks from the Knesset podium, responding to criticism from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar over the handling of the detainees.

Ben-Gvir said Israel should prioritize deterrence and security rather than international opinion, drawing a sharp contrast with Sa’ar’s criticism of the incident.

“He’s worried about the images? I’m worried about the security of the citizens of Israel,” Ben-Gvir said. “He looks for international sympathy; we look for deterrence.”

The minister argued that Israel must project force against those seeking to harm the country. “A state that doesn’t know how to set boundaries, enforce, and rule, invites its enemies to its doors and will end up sacrificing its security on the altar of failed diplomacy,” he said.

Sa’ar had publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir earlier, accusing him of damaging Israel diplomatically through his conduct surrounding the flotilla detainees.

“You knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display – and not for the first time,” Sa’ar said in a statement.

“You have undone tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by so many people — from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others,” Sa’ar added.

Responding directly to the foreign minister, Ben-Gvir accused Sa’ar of showing weakness toward Israel’s enemies.

“Minister Sa’ar got scared, he just got scared, and he began preaching to me about damage done,” Ben-Gvir said. “The truth is the opposite: the one who did damage to the State of Israel is Gideon Sa’ar.”

“His bowing his head to the terrorists is shameful,” Ben-Gvir continued. “The days when our country was a punching bag are over. The days of terrorists coming to harm us and us having to be apologetic, nice, and accepting are over.”

Ben-Gvir referred to the flotilla participants as “terror supporters and arch-terrorists,” saying they came “with no humanitarian aid, only with a clear statement to destroy the state and hurt soldiers.”

The minister ended his remarks by praising the police and Israel Prison Service personnel involved in detaining the activists.

“I’m proud to be the minister who oversees the organizations that operated today,” he said. “Whoever wants to harm our fighters will be handcuffed and shackled.”