00:24Israel's controversial minister has faced protests in New York,
00:31Although the video was from the past, the scenes which were seen remain shocking.
00:41Watch closely.
00:42As Itamar Ben-Gvir begins speaking to a small gathering, a protester suddenly stands up
00:49from the audience.
00:50He raises both arms and begins shouting directly at the Israeli minister.
00:57The protester can be heard demanding that Ben-Gvir leave New York while making further
01:09accusations against him and his policies.
01:12Within seconds, security and event staff move in.
01:16They grab the protester and physically escort him away through the seating area, even as
01:23he continues shouting and gesturing.
01:26The dramatic interruption quickly became one of the most striking moments surrounding Ben-Gvir's
01:32visit.
01:33But this confrontation was part of a much larger controversy.
01:38Ben-Gvir, the leader of Israel's Atma Yehudit party, is one of the most hard-lined figures
01:44in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
01:48His political record and positions have made him a deeply polarizing figure, both inside
01:54Israel and abroad.
01:56During his first official U.S. state visit since joining Netanyahu's cabinet, Ben-Gvir traveled
02:03to several locations, including Florida, New York, and Brooklyn.
02:08His appearances were met with protests and criticism from progressive Jewish groups, Israeli expatriates,
02:16politicians, and pro-Palestinian activists.
02:19In New York, dozens and in some reports more than 200 protesters gathered outside one of his
02:26events.
02:27Some Jewish protesters carried Israeli flags while holding signs condemning Ben-Gvir.
02:33Among the critics were progressive rabbis and Jewish advocacy groups.
02:39Inside the event, the atmosphere was very different.
02:43Ben-Gvir was speaking to a relatively small and receptive audience when the protesters suddenly
02:49interrupted.
02:50The protester, identified in reports as Brooklyn resident Gabriel DeFazio, had reportedly hidden
02:57in a bathroom for around two hours before entering the room.
03:01After being removed, Ben-Gvir said it was good that people could protest freely, contrasting
03:08the incident with restrictions on protests in other countries.
03:12But the wider controversies surrounding his visit continued.
03:16Critics accused Ben-Gvir of using inflammatory rhetoric and strongly opposed his positions
03:22on Gaza and the West Bank.
03:25His opposition to certain hostage deals has drawn criticism.
03:29Supporters, however, have defended his hard-line approach and his emphasis on Israel's security.
03:36So while the video may be from an earlier moment, the reaction it captured reflects a much bigger
03:43political divide.
03:44A visit intended to engage supporters in the United States instead became a stage for confrontation,
03:52with protests outside and a dramatic interruption inside.
03:57For Ben-Gvir, the scenes highlighted just how controversial his political agenda remains, not only in Israel,
04:04but also among parts of the Jewish and wider American public.
04:12Get the f**k out of New York tomorrow, we know who you are, I'll tell you how they're saying,
04:17you've been a member of a Nazi, and Pakistan will be free, Pakistan will be free!
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