Israel’s Ben-Gvir poised for election gains as young voters turn to far right

TEL AVIV: He celebrated his 50th birthday with a cake decorated with a noose. He says he plans to surround jailed Palestinians with crocodiles. In videos, he berates foreign activists captured at sea trying to bring aid to Gaza, forced to kneel at his feet with their faces pressed to the ground. To much of the world and to many Israelis, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the bellicose face of Israel’s far right, is a figure from the fringe of politics, despite over four years in power as police minister in Pri