In this statement, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir articulates a vision of Israeli war objectives in Gaza centered on permanent territorial control and demographic transformation. He argues that Israel's identity and internal decisions—rather than external constraints—will determine the war's outcome. Ben-Gvir explicitly advocates for conquering Gaza, rehabilitating its territories, and establishing permanent Israeli settlements alongside military and security infrastructure. He characterizes this permanent occupation and settlement as 'absolute victory,' contrasting it with what he frames as temporary military operations or cyclical rounds of conflict. The statement presents this vision as both a deterrent mechanism—imposing costs and psychological defeat on adversaries—and as a fait accompli of irreversible territorial and demographic change. Ben-Gvir's remarks reflect the stated expansionist objectives of senior Israeli ministers regarding Gaza's future.
Key Points
- Ben-Gvir defines 'absolute victory' as permanent Israeli conquest of Gaza, rehabilitation of its territories, and establishment of permanent settlements—not temporary military occupation.
- He argues that Israeli identity and internal decisions alone will determine the war's outcome, independent of external or international considerations.
- The proposed permanent presence includes civilian settlements, military forces, and security infrastructure presented as a final, irreversible transformation.
- Ben-Gvir frames permanent occupation and settlement as both a deterrent mechanism and a psychological defeat for adversaries, ending what he describes as cycles of recurring conflict.
- The statement positions this territorial vision as a decisive departure from previous temporary military operations, presenting it as a permanent fait accompli.
Article
Hebrew
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Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declares that 'absolute victory' in Gaza requires permanent Israeli conquest, settlement, and control of the territory, rejecting temporary military solutions and framing permanent occupation and Jewish settlement as the decisive outcome.
Summary
In this statement, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir articulates a vision of Israeli war objectives in Gaza centered on permanent territorial control and demographic transformation. He argues that Israel's identity and internal decisions—rather than external constraints—will determine the war's outcome. Ben-Gvir explicitly advocates for conquering Gaza, rehabilitating its territories, and establishing permanent Israeli settlements alongside military and security infrastructure. He characterizes this permanent occupation and settlement as 'absolute victory,' contrasting it with what he frames as temporary military operations or cyclical rounds of conflict. The statement presents this vision as both a deterrent mechanism—imposing costs and psychological defeat on adversaries—and as a fait accompli of irreversible territorial and demographic change. Ben-Gvir's remarks reflect the stated expansionist objectives of senior Israeli ministers regarding Gaza's future.
Key takeaways
- Ben-Gvir defines 'absolute victory' as permanent Israeli conquest of Gaza, rehabilitation of its territories, and establishment of permanent settlements—not temporary military occupation.
- He argues that Israeli identity and internal decisions alone will determine the war's outcome, independent of external or international considerations.
- The proposed permanent presence includes civilian settlements, military forces, and security infrastructure presented as a final, irreversible transformation.
- Ben-Gvir frames permanent occupation and settlement as both a deterrent mechanism and a psychological defeat for adversaries, ending what he describes as cycles of recurring conflict.
- The statement positions this territorial vision as a decisive departure from previous temporary military operations, presenting it as a permanent fait accompli.
Full article
Israeli National Identity and War Objectives
The identity of the Israeli people and the State of Israel determines how the outcomes of this war will be decided. With God's help, the results will be determined solely according to our internal decisions. If we decide that this war ends with us conquering the territories of the homeland in Gaza, rehabilitating them, and returning them, that is what will happen. With God's help, this will truly constitute absolute victory—both in the simple logic of exacting a price and instilling a sense of defeat in those who did to us what these Nazis did to us. But also in that it is no longer just another round: we are finished, that is it. There will be settlements, there will be an army, there will be security. Reality proves this simple fact.
The Permanence of Control
The speaker frames the outcome not as a temporary military operation but as a permanent transformation. The establishment of settlements, military presence, and security infrastructure represents, in his view, a decisive and final resolution that goes beyond cyclical conflict. This vision of "absolute victory" is presented as both a deterrent mechanism—imposing costs and psychological defeat on adversaries—and as a fait accompli of territorial and demographic change.
Topics#Gaza occupation and settlement#Israeli territorial expansion#Military objectives and war strategy#Israeli government policy#Palestinian displacement and dispossession