ISRAEL will nominate a far-right former general and Cabinet minister who once called for the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to head a Holocaust memorial. 

Officials revealed on Tuesday that the higher education minister Zeev Elkim selected Effie Eitam to lead the Yad Vashem memorial. 

The religious nationalist has a history of hateful rhetoric towards Palestinians and is a firm advocate of settlements on the West Bank, which are a violation of international law. 

An anonymous Israeli official told the Associated Press that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also supports the nomination. 

During the first Palestinian intifada in 1988, troops under Mr Eitam’s command beat up two Palestinian suspects – one of whom later died. 

The soldiers said they were following orders. 

Mr Eitam has made heinous comments including in his call for former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his “gang of murderers” to be put to death. 

He also called for the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank and for the removal of Israel’s Arab citizens from the political system, calling them a “group of traitors”.

Holocaust survivor groups have expressed concern that his appointment could tarnish the Yad Vashem institution for Holocaust remembrance and see condemnation by the boycott movement, as well as encouraging those who deny the Nazi genocide.

The Centre of Organisations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel leader Colette Avital said Yad Vashem should be led by someone with a background in Holocaust research and education. 

“Yad Vashem is really the embodiment of an institution that speaks on behalf of minorities,” she said. “It’s really very difficult to accept statements like the ones he made.”

In 2018, Yad Vashem opposed government plans to deport tens of thousands of African migrants, and Mr Eitam’s appointment may help Mr Netanyahu’s domestic support as he goes on trial for corruption.