Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has mocked an Israeli attack on Iran as “lame,” after Tehran thwarted a small IDF drone strike early on Friday. The incursion was the latest in a cycle of violence between the two Middle Eastern powers after Tel Aviv destroyed Iran’s consulate in Damascus and Tehran responded with strikes of its own. Ben Gvir had urged Israel to “go berserk” in retaliation.
Ben Gvir, who leads the ultranationalist Jewish Power party, made a one-word post on X following the Israeli attack. Written in Hebrew, the Telegraph explained that the post used a “slang word that literally translates as ‘scarecrow’ but also means ‘lame.’” Reuters translated the word to “feeble.”
The post highlighted a public rift within the government in Tel Aviv. Ben Gvir is considered on the extreme end of Israel’s political spectrum and is popular among the right-wing settler movement. He lives in a West Bank settlement and has called for the resettlement of Gaza by Israelis.
Yair Lapid, the Israeli opposition leader, attacked Ben Gvir over the post. “Never before has a minister in the security cabinet done such heavy damage to the country’s security, its image and its international status,” he said. “In an unforgivable one-word tweet, Ben Gvir managed to mock and shame Israel from Tehran to Washington. Any other prime minister would have thrown him out of the cabinet this morning.”
Ben Gvir is also pushing for Tel Aviv to impose the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in order to relieve overcrowding in Israeli detention centers. Israeli forces have rounded up thousands of Palestinians since October 7, with many reporting torture and other mistreatment while in custody.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
He has probably been listening to Russia state news too much where that kind of language is acceptable and greatly supported by most bloggers here. 🤷🏽♂️
Hebrew? I guess many anti war names are Jewish or influenced by people like Rothbard. Did Rothbard even learn Hebrew?
Some of the Syrians know Aramaic, which is similar.
This is obviously a tit-for-tat, “good cop – bad cop” exchange between the two ministers for public consumption. Israel knew that it didn’t need to launch a major attack on Iran to get Iran to respond. So why waste the military assets that will be needed against Hezbollah and Iran later? Iran explicitly said that any attack on Iran by Israel would be responded to. So Iran will respond to this “lame” attack – and thus further “justify” Israel starting a full war.
Iran already said they would not respond to this micro drone attack…!
He’s pressuring Israel to attack again. Amazing.
It seems the only country that can bring down Israel and eventually US hegemony is Iran…!
He is one of the younger brutal Jewish society who grew up in a brutal environment learning to hate, the IDF brutalizes young people. They are now in leadership positions and are openly inhuman hateful people.
Why did this post disappear what is wrong with it, I would like to know. That is not too much to ask?
Israel should stick to killing women and children in Gaza and leave the big boy warfare to actual regional powers.
Anyone from the Seattle area and/or remember a local ’90s sketch comedy show called “Almost Live” ?
Gvir-and-Taketh-Away’s comment reminds me of one segment, “The Lame List – or, What’s Weak This Week.”
https://youtu.be/hGpBnB-jYa8?si=GvspwGmnq0Bj9udn
“Iran launches symbolic drone attack doing minimal damage !!!”
– “That wallows in Lameness.”
Fun side note – “Almost Live!” was where Bill Nye The Science Guy got his start – both on that persona, and as a member of the comedy team doing such regular sketches as the superhero Speed Walker.