 |
Baruch MarzelPolitician, currently heads the Our Eretz Yisrael party
Date of Birth: 01.01.1960
Country:  Israel |
Content:
- Baruch Marzel: A Controversial Israeli Politician
- Involvement in Kach
- Terrorism and Controversies
- Political Career
- Current Position
Baruch Marzel: A Controversial Israeli Politician
Early Life and Military ServiceBaruch Marzel was born in Jerusalem. From a young age, he was an active member of Kach, a far-right political movement led by Rabbi Meir Kahane. At the age of 20, Marzel completed his studies at a yeshiva in Yamit and enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces. He served as a soldier in the armored corps during the Lebanon War, participating in the capture of the Beirut-Damascus highway.
Involvement in Kach
After his military service, Marzel was appointed secretary of Kach's Knesset faction when Kahane was elected to the parliament in 1984. Following Kahane's assassination in 1990, Kach was split into two factions: "Kahane Chai" (Kahane Lives) and Kach, led by Marzel. As head of Kach, Marzel attempted to run for Knesset but was disqualified due to the movement's racist platform.
Terrorism and Controversies
In 1994, Kach was designated a terrorist organization by Israel after the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre. Marzel participated in running the movement until its ban. He has been arrested and detained numerous times over the years, including on charges of assault against Arabs. In 1992, he was sentenced to eight months of suspended imprisonment for inciting riots in Bat Yam.
Political Career
Marzel later joined the Herut party and ran unsuccessfully for Knesset in 2003. He founded the National Jewish Front in 2004 but again failed to achieve electoral success. In 2009, he supported the Our Land Israel party, which ran in a joint list with the Jewish Home party.
Current Position
Marzel currently leads the Our Land Israel party, which aligns with the far right. He has been a prominent figure in the establishment of several Israeli settlements, including Ofra and Kiryat Arba. He has also actively opposed the evacuation of settlements, such as the Yairit settlement. Marzel resides in a caravan in Hebron, where he has been banned from building a permanent home.
