Mizrahi Activist's Open Letter to Israel's Far-Right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
In an open letter published by Der Freitag, a Mizrahi Jewish activist addresses Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, recalling their first encounter in Ashkelon on the day Mordechai Vanunu was released from prison in 2004. The author, who identifies as Mizrahi, stood alone with a sign reading 'Mordechai Vanunu, you are my Mizrahi hero' among a group of mostly Ashkenazi radical leftists, while Ben-Gvir was part of a hostile crowd shouting and threatening. The letter highlights the historical discrimination of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa (Mizrahim) in Israel and defends Vanunu's act of revealing Israel's secret nuclear program. The author argues that Vanunu's disclosure was important for peace and criticizes Ben-Gvir's current role in the far-right government.
Key facts
- The letter is addressed to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right National Security Minister.
- The author and Ben-Gvir first met in Ashkelon on the day Mordechai Vanunu was released from prison in 2004.
- The author held a sign reading 'Mordechai Vanunu, you are my Mizrahi hero'.
- Vanunu spent 19 years in prison, mostly in solitary confinement, for revealing Israel's nuclear program.
- The author was the only Mizrahi activist among a group of Ashkenazi radical leftists at the protest.
- Ben-Gvir was part of a crowd that was shouting, cursing, and threatening.
- The author defends Vanunu's actions as important for peace.
- The letter discusses discrimination against Mizrahi Jews in Israel.
Entities
Institutions
- Der Freitag
Locations
- Ashkelon
- Israel