Michael Ben-Ari

Michael Ben-Ari was born in 1963 in Tel Aviv

Ben-Ari was born in Tel Aviv in 1963 and grew up in the Kfar Shalem neighborhood. His father was born in Afghanistan and his mother in Iran. He studied at the Bnei Akiva yeshiva in Kfar Haroeh, the hesder yeshiva in Yamit and later at Mercaz HaRav.

At Bar-Ilan University he earned a BA in education, a master's degree in Talmud and a PhD in Land of Israel studies. He taught Bible at yeshivas and schools, and later lectured at Ariel University and Orot Israel College. He wrote a book on the Great Revolt and researches the Temple Mount.

He joined the Kach movement in high school. After failed runs in 2003 and 2006, he entered the 18th Knesset in 2009 on the National Union list. In 2012 he and Aryeh Eldad founded Otzma LeYisrael, which did not pass the threshold in 2013.

In 2019 the Supreme Court barred him from running in the election on grounds of incitement to racism. In July 2024 he was indicted for incitement to racism against Arabs. He lives in Karnei Shomron, is married and has 9 children.