By: Fern Sidman

In a significant step aimed at strengthening ties between Israel’s right-wing leadership and influential figures in the U.S. political sphere, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir held high-level meetings with senior members of the Republican Party on Tuesday night at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, according to extensive coverage by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

Ben-Gvir’s visit — his first official overseas trip since joining the Israeli government in December 2022 — marks a deepening of his direct engagement with key Republican lawmakers, pro-Israel donors, and Jewish community figures. His central message: a no-compromise approach to Hamas in Gaza and an uncompromising stance on national security.

היה לי את הכבוד והזכות להיפגש עם בכירים במפלגה הרפובליקנית באחוזת טראמפ במאר א-לאגו. הם הביעו תמיכה בעמדתי המאוד ברורה כיצד צריך לפעול בעזה ושיש להפציץ את מאגרי המזון והסיוע על מנת לייצר לחץ צבאי ומדיני כדי להחזיר את חטופינו הביתה בשלום. pic.twitter.com/5qXbNrudSV

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) April 23, 2025

“I had the honor and privilege of meeting with senior members of the Republican Party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate,” Ben-Gvir tweeted Wednesday morning, as quoted by JNS. “They expressed support for my clear stance on how action should be taken in Gaza—that food and aid depots should be bombed to create military and political pressure to bring our hostages home.”

Ben-Gvir’s comments, made during a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago, reflect his belief that humanitarian aid to Gaza should be leveraged as a pressure tactic in the ongoing campaign to dismantle Hamas and return Israeli hostages taken during the group’s Oct. 7 massacre. His hardline position has long drawn both praise and controversy in Israel and abroad.

As JNS reported, Ben-Gvir met with House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) during the dinner, which was also attended by dozens of senior Miami-area business figures, many of whom are active supporters of pro-Israel causes.

With Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir in a Jewish-owned gun store in the Miami area.
Israel has what to learn from the USA’s 2nd Amendment thinking. pic.twitter.com/j1UIImKWDe

— Yishai Fleisher يشاي ישי פליישר 🕎 (@YishaiFleisher) April 21, 2025

Ben-Gvir, who addressed attendees in Hebrew through a translator, framed his positions within the context of a shared Israeli-American battle against radical jihadism: “I love you very much, I love the American people,” he said, according to JNS. “We have a joint war against the jihadists—for many years, I’ve been fighting against them.”

Ben-Gvir used the platform to outline changes he has implemented in Israel regarding the treatment of convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons, boasting of new policies that have stripped detainees of previously allowed privileges.

Honored to meet Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, (@itamarbengvir) today at Mar-a-Lago. A fearless leader who never backs down from his beliefs! pic.twitter.com/Ll4czJZlgz

— Yossi Farro (@FarroYossi) April 22, 2025

“Thank God, we’ve made a few changes in Israel in how we treat jailed terrorists,” he told the crowd. “It used to be like a hotel over there. We took away all their privileges—canteen, showers, television, radio.”

These remarks align with Ben-Gvir’s longstanding position that Israeli counterterrorism policies must include punitive deterrence inside the prison system, a stance that has garnered support among many on the Israeli right and American conservatives, as JNS has frequently reported.

Mincha on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago

The Mar-a-Lago dinner was only one part of a packed itinerary. As the JNS report detailed, Ben-Gvir’s official visit began on Monday and included stops across South Florida.  He paid a visit to a Miami-area police station, reflecting his portfolio as Israel’s National Security Minister. He also attended a meeting with members of the Jewish community in Boca Raton, where he engaged with local leaders and pro-Israel advocates. JNS reported that Ben Gvir also took a tour of the Everglades Correctional Institute, where he met with Jewish inmates and observed rehabilitation programs, highlighting his interest in prison policy reform. He also participated in meetings with representatives of the Aleph Institute, a Chabad-affiliated organization that supports incarcerated Jews and their families.

🇮🇱Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir @itamarbengvir Speaks at Trump Fundraiser — Heads to New York on Sunday

At a high-profile fundraising event held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir delivered a powerful message of solidarity… pic.twitter.com/mNmdbWJSLu

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) April 23, 2025

In addition, Ben Gvir made stops at an Israeli supermarket in Hollywood, Florida, and a Jewish-owned gun store, emphasizing grassroots engagement with Jewish business owners.

As JNS reported, Ben-Gvir’s arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was met with vocal protests by left-wing Israeli activists, who labeled him a “racist” and a “terrorist.”

Despite this opposition, his visit was warmly received by Republican allies and many members of the American Jewish right, particularly those aligned with the Trump-aligned pro-Israel community.

Ben-Gvir’s visit is far from over. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to travel to New York, with a high-profile stop planned at Yale University in Connecticut. There, he will participate in a closed-door event hosted by Shabtai, a global Jewish leadership society known for hosting Israeli officials and Jewish thought leaders, according to the JNS report.  The event is not affiliated with Yale University itself but has previously drawn interest and criticism from both students and faculty.

A spokesperson for Ben-Gvir described the U.S. visit to JNS earlier this month as a “political-diplomatic” mission — one intended not only to solidify support among American allies, but also to reframe the Israeli narrative amid rising international criticism of the war in Gaza.

By visiting prominent Jewish communities, engaging Republican lawmakers, and speaking forcefully on Gaza policy, Ben-Gvir seeks to consolidate international backing for Israel’s most important positions, including calls to escalate military action and curtail humanitarian access until Hamas is decisively defeated.

As the JNS report indicated, Ben-Gvir’s trip to the United States signals the increasingly global dimension of Israel’s internal debates. While much of the world pressures Israel toward restraint in Gaza, Ben-Gvir is promoting a vision of total victory over Hamas, greater deterrence through carceral reform, and zero tolerance for perceived weakness.

Whether his message resonates beyond Republican circles remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Israel’s domestic policy debates are now playing out on the international stage, and Ben-Gvir’s presence in America is a bold, unapologetic attempt to influence that conversation.