JERUSALEM / NEW YORK — Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir departed Monday on his first official visit to the United States since entering office in December 2022. The trip, which began on April 21, is scheduled to span one week, with stops in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Miami.
Ben-Gvir, a member of Israel’s right-wing governing coalition and head of the Otzma Yehudit party, is slated to meet with U.S. lawmakers, engage with Jewish community leaders, and attend public and private events organized by pro-Israel institutions.
Among his scheduled appearances is a talk at Yale University’s Shabtai society, a Jewish leadership forum based in New Haven, Connecticut. He is also expected to appear the following day on New York’s Upper East Side for a separate engagement. A planned fundraiser in Brooklyn, hosted by Beis Shmuel Chabad in support of Chabad of Hebron, was announced earlier this month but was quietly canceled in recent days.
While Ben-Gvir’s visit has drawn some criticism from progressive Jewish groups in the U.S., it also reflects a broader effort to strengthen ties between the Israeli government and the global Jewish community, particularly in an era marked by rising antisemitism and ongoing regional threats.
In Washington, the Minister is expected to hold meetings with members of Congress and officials from the Department of Homeland Security, according to Israeli media reports. Though the Biden administration had previously kept its distance, the current visit is being facilitated largely through Republican channels, including figures associated with President Donald Trump.
Ben-Gvir, a lawyer by training, became known for defending Israeli soldiers and nationalist activists in court before entering politics. He has built a strong base among Israelis who support stricter security policies, enhanced police authority, and a tougher stance on terrorism. His rhetoric and past associations have drawn criticism, but his growing influence reflects changing political dynamics within Israel.
As of this writing, it remains unconfirmed whether Ben-Gvir traveled on the Israeli government’s official Boeing 767, known as the “Wing of Zion”—a plane commissioned for diplomatic use but rarely deployed.
Ben-Gvir’s visit underscores the complex realities of Israeli diplomacy, especially as ideological divisions within the Jewish world intersect with ongoing security challenges in Israel. The trip offers an opportunity for direct engagement between Israeli leadership and American Jewish communities, even amid debate over policy and tone.
