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The next kingmaker?

Who are the Israelis voting for Itamar Ben-Gvir?

The rise of Ben-Gvir and the similarly far-right Bezalel Smotrich, pundits caution, could upend Israeli politics. So why is their popularity growing?

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli Knesset member and head of the far right Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party Itamar Ben-Gvir (L) and head of the Jewish Zionism (Zionut Datit) list Bezalel Smotrich (C) talk to reporters as they visit Sheikh Jarrah on May 10, 2021.

Last week, Britain’s Jewish News attracted international attention for a front page featuring a photograph of two controversial Israeli politicians with the headline: “They hate Arabs, LGBT people, and even some Jews. They are heading for power in Israel....

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