Israel’s new government will test the ties with Arab states

In his pastuaeUAEuae work as a lawyer, (pictured) represented Israeli Jews accused of hate crimes against Palestinians. He heads a party that promotes Jewish supremacy between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean. Yet on December 1st he was invited to celebrate the national day of the United Arab Emirates () at a hotel in Tel Aviv. One month later the had to denounce its guest. On January 3rd Mr Ben-Gvir, by then Israel’s national-security minister, went to the Temple Mount, Jerusalem’s most volatile flashpoint, since it is the Jews’ holiest spot but also sits beside the al-Aqsa mosque, sacred to Muslims. Arab states decried his visit. The called it a “serious and provocative violation”.