Hanamel Dorfman, chief of staff to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has cancelled a planned visit to Cyprus due to potential entry issues stemming from an administrative measure imposed by France.
- As a result, security authorities advised that he might be refused entry and sent back to Israel, leading to the cancellation of his trip.
According to a report from Israeli newspaper Maariv, Dorfman was set to travel to Cyprus approximately two weeks ago to participate in a rehabilitation programme aimed at Israeli police officers who had experienced trauma following the October 7, 2023, attacks. However, officials from Israeli security agencies were alerted to the possibility that France’s administrative measure could hinder Dorfman’s entry into European nations.
As a result, security authorities advised that he might be refused entry and sent back to Israel, leading to the cancellation of his trip.
Dorfman publicly denounced the French decision, labelling it an “honour” that France, which he termed “an anti-Semitic country,” would attempt to impede his travel due to his close association with Minister Ben Gvir. He claimed, “This proves that I am on the right path. France will continue to protest, and I will continue to implement Minister Ben Gvir’s policy and serve Israel’s national interests.”
The cancellation of the trip comes shortly after Israeli media reported that Dorfman might resign from his position as Ben Gvir’s chief of staff to run for the Otzma Yehudit party in the upcoming Knesset elections. Civil servants in Israel are prohibited from holding office while campaigning for parliamentary positions.
Dorfman has previously drawn attention for his political affiliations and actions. Prior to his role in Ben Gvir’s office, he was linked to the Hilltop Youth, a radical settler movement operating in the West Bank. His controversial past includes being filmed at his 2013 wedding, where guests were seen stabbing and burning images of Ali Dawabsheh, a Palestinian toddler who, along with his parents, was killed in a 2015 arson attack committed by Israeli extremists. Ben Gvir, who represented suspects in that incident in his legal career, was present at the wedding.
In a separate development, Israeli media outlets reported that investigators recently arrived at the national security ministry with an arrest warrant for Dorfman as part of an ongoing inquiry into allegations of his attempts to influence investigations concerning Jewish extremist violence. Reports indicate that Dorfman declined immediate arrest, stating he would voluntarily appear for questioning.
