Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right gadfly who heads the Jewish Power party, is one of the rising stars of Israel’s 2022 election. In just one year, Ben Gvir has become the most popular politician on the far right.

Ben Gvir has taken advantage of tensions Israel between Israel’s Arab and Jewish populations to score points. He is already very popular among soldiers and ultra-Orthodox and right-wing youth, but he has also managed to win over voters from the Likud and the ultra-Orthodox parties.

As a result, he is soaring in the most recent polls.

In the past, Netanyahu made a point of keeping a safe distance from Ben Gvir. Now he needs Ben Gvir's base as well to form a government.

Ben Gvir, who was arrested on more than one occasion, made a name for himself a as a lawyer while trying to launch a political career. He struggled but never gave up. He ran in every election until he finally managed to break through the fierce opposition to him and his ideas.

Smotrich also has a reputation as a right-wing provocateur. Like Ben Gvir, he was arrested by the Shin Bet, in his case on suspicion of attempting to sabotage infrastructure and interfere with Israel’s evacuation of the Gaza Strip.

If Netanyahu succeeds in forming a new government, everyone expects both Smotrich and Ben Gvir to serve as ministers in his new cabinet.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/07/israeli-ultranationalist-soars-polls