Extremist Lawmaker Surges Ahead Of Israel Elections

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) – An extremist Israeli lawmaker who was once relegated to the margins of Israeli politics is surging in the polls ahead of the country’s November elections. Itamar Ben-Gvir is poised to emerge as a major force in the upcoming elections and could propel former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to power. His rise from extremist rabble-rouser to influential politician highlights the Israeli electorate’s shift to the right, legitimizing ultranationalist views that were once shunned by the mainstream and all but extinguishing hopes for Palestinian statehood.