The Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said, "His rights in the West Bank are 'more important' than the rights of Arabs."

When asked by the far-right minister, during an interview with Channel 12 on Wednesday evening, about security in the West Bank after a wave of deadly Palestinian attacks, Ben Gvir blamed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant for the violence, stating, "Galant should change his perspective," adding, "I trust the Prime Minister, but I believe Galant is simply mistaken in his policies."

Ben Gvir added, "My right and my wife and children's right to roam safely on the roads in the West Bank is more important than the right of Arabs to move; my right to life comes before their right to move."

Ben Gvir is a resident of the Kiryat Arba settlement in the West Bank, on the outskirts of Hebron (which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority and Israel in a ratio of 80%-20%) in the southern West Bank. Earlier this week, an Israeli kindergarten worker was shot dead in front of her daughter in an attack on a road near the city; Palestinian attacks in Israel and the West Bank have resulted in the deaths of 29 people and left several others seriously injured since the beginning of the year.

Arab Knesset member Ahmad Tibi of the "Hadash-Ta'al" party criticized Ben Gvir for his remarks.

Tibi said on the platform X, formerly known as "Twitter," "For the first time, an Israeli minister admits on air that Israel applies an apartheid system based on Jewish supremacy."

Ben Gvir, leader of the far-right "Otzma Yehudit" party, a partner in the coalition, has long adopted a hardline approach against Palestinians and has clashed with the security establishment over policies in the West Bank.

He also has a history of incitement against Arabs; as a young activist, he grew up in the "Kach" movement, founded by the late extremist rabbi Meir Kahane, which was designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and Israel.

Karen Elharar, a Knesset member from the opposition "Yesh Atid" party, commented on the interview, describing Ben Gvir as "the true representative of the most racist government ever."

Like Kahane, Ben Gvir has also previously been convicted of supporting a terrorist organization in anti-Arab activities, although he insists he has become more moderate in recent years. However, he has repeatedly spoken at annual memorials for Kahane, including last year.

Since taking office as minister, Ben Gvir has also downplayed the severity of settler violence against Palestinians, which has also escalated this year.

Earlier this month, Ben Gvir praised an Israeli settler who shot and killed a Palestinian youth, stating, "Anyone who defends themselves against stone-throwing should receive a medal of honor."

The interview with Ben Gvir on Channel 12 on Wednesday primarily addressed violent crime in the Arab community, which has escalated during his tenure. As Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir oversees the police force.

Ben Gvir told Channel 12 that the wave of crime poses a security threat to the State of Israel and could extend to the Jewish community, which he described as a "greater threat" than the current situation of almost daily murders among Arabs.

In response to his comment, the interviewer asked him if "we should only care because it might extend to Jewish towns," to which Ben Gvir replied that pointing to this aspect is "important."

He added, "It is turning from a crime problem into a security threat to the State of Israel. There is a bad reality, and it will get worse. We are not fully absorbing this issue."