National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir was loudly heckled during a visit to Basmat Tabun, with residents calling him a "clown" and accusing him of incitement. The incident follows contentious police operations in Arab communities, including a disputed wedding raid in Umm al‑Fahm and the detention of a bride and groom in the south. Critics, including Hadash chairman Dr. Yousef Jabareen, say Ben‑Gvir exploits his office for political gain; Ben‑Gvir says his actions target dangerous wedding convoys and public safety threats.
‘You’re a Clown’: Ben‑Gvir Heckled by Residents During Visit to Northern Israel
Otzma Yehudit party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, together with members of his party, attends a supporters' conference ahead of the upcoming general elections in Petah Tikva, central Israel, August 16, 2026. (photo credit: ERIK MARMOR/FLASH90)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir was met with loud jeers and insults during a visit to the village of Basmat Tabun in northern Israel on Tuesday, according to video footage published from the encounter.
Accompanied by a heavy security detail, Ben‑Gvir walked the village streets while residents shouted a string of criticisms. In the clip, voices can be heard yelling:
"You are making a fool of yourself. You're a clown. Everyone is laughing at you. You are a champion of failure. They didn't even give you a visa to the United States."
Other residents went further, calling the minister a "terrorist" and saying: "A minister convicted of terrorism, you're a terrorist. Go to a mental institution — you shouldn't be here. You incite terror."
The confrontation comes as tensions between Ben‑Gvir, the Israel Police and Arab communities have escalated following several high‑profile incidents.
Recent Incidents and Reactions
Earlier this week in Umm al‑Fahm, residents said police raided a wedding and ordered guests to lie on the floor; video from that event shows officers with drawn weapons walking among people on the ground. The Israel Police said the operation was carried out after suspicions of weapons use and that officers were on site to inspect and try to locate weapons.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showcases an execution facility for the hanging of convicted terrorists being built within the already-constructed death row prisoner wing in central Israel, August 18, 2026. (credit: Itamar Ben-Gvir's Office)
Dr. Yousef Jabareen, chairman of Hadash and an Umm al‑Fahm resident, publicly accused Ben‑Gvir of exploiting his office for political advantage: "I explicitly accuse Ben Gvir of exploiting his authority to harm and persecute the Arab public, because it serves him in his election campaign," he said.
Separately, police detained a bride and groom in the south for questioning after saying their wedding convoy had disrupted traffic. The couple said the detention caused them to arrive late to their own ceremony and that some guests left; the groom and his father alleged the episode was used as a political stunt.
Ben‑Gvir’s Response
Ben‑Gvir defended police actions and his own policies, saying: "We are putting an end to wild wedding convoys in the Negev and shooting at weddings that endanger human lives. They will keep babbling, and I will keep working."
Earlier material released by the minister's office also showed Ben‑Gvir presenting an execution facility for hangings being built inside a death‑row wing in central Israel; that image was dated August 18, 2026 and credited to Itamar Ben‑Gvir's Office.
The episode in Basmat Tabun underscores growing friction between the minister and parts of Israel's Arab population, and highlights how policing tactics and security measures have become intensely politicized.
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