Running for a seat in the Knesset
Who they are
Born in Tel Aviv in 1963 to a father from Afghanistan and a mother from Iran, Ben-Ari served in Golani and the Armoured Corps, fought in the 1982 Lebanon War, and holds a doctorate in Land of Israel studies and archaeology from Bar-Ilan. He lectures at Ariel University and teaches in yeshivas, describes himself as a student of Rabbi Meir Kahane, sat in the Knesset for the National Union from 2009, and co-founded the party that became Otzma Yehudit. In 2019 the Supreme Court disqualified his candidacy for incitement to racism, by eight votes to one, the only individual candidate ever barred by the court without a criminal conviction. He was indicted for incitement to racism in July 2024 and has not been convicted.
Positions and record
After 7 October: Says Israel had been living inside a concept built on dangerous illusions.
The courts: Called his own disqualification the work of a judicial junta seeking to take over people's lives.
Arab citizens: The indictment alleges he described Israeli Arabs collectively as enemies and a fifth column; his lawyer says he spoke as a researcher of Islam.
Where they stand
Holds the party line on every issue.