Prison visit video sparks controversy

Itamar Ben-Gvir posts video showing him taunting Marwan Barghouti during a jail visit, drawing swift condemnation.

Far-right Israeli minister taunts jailed Palestinian leader in prison visit

A 13 second video from Ganot prison shows Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting Marwan Barghouti as Israel’s prisons minister Kobi Yaakobi stands nearby. Barghouti, 66, has been jailed since 2002 for his role in killings during the second Intifada and appears gaunt after years in solitary confinement.

Ben-Gvir, the leader of the far right Jewish Power party, has faced sanctions from the UK for incitement to violence against Palestinians. Palestinian officials and Barghouti's family condemned the footage, with the Palestinian foreign ministry calling it organised state terrorism and Hussein al-Sheikh calling it the epitome of psychological, moral and physical terrorism.

This incident shows how far right politics blends spectacle with policy in the current Israeli climate. A video clip can shape perceptions quickly, and the taunt adds to a pattern of public display by ministers on matters involving the conflict. The moment also highlights the power of media images to influence international opinion and domestic debate at a time when trust between communities remains frayed.

The episode comes as Bezalel Smotrich and other allies push hardline positions on Palestinian statehood and settlements. It underscores how leadership choices in moments of grievance can escalate tensions or harden stances, even when official channels emphasize policy rather than rhetoric.

Highlights

The line between political theater and real policy is tested once again by a single clip.