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Ackman Urges Exclusion of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from Israeli Government
· Confirmed
In Short: In summary, Arabnews and The Times of Israel agree that Ackman urged the exclusion of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from the next Israeli government, citing reputational damage and discriminatory policies, and that this call reflects a desire for Netanyahu to distance himself from far-right allies.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman on Sunday called for the exclusion of Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from Israel’s next government, citing damage to the country’s reputation, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and The Times of Israel (Israel).
Both Arabnews and The Times of Israel reported that Ackman, who owns 5 percent of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, praised Netanyahu’s handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and expressed hope that a government without Ben-Gvir and Smotrich would signal a new direction for Israel.
Ackman wrote on X that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich had caused 'enormous reputational damage' with their statements and actions, Arabnews and The Times of Israel reported. He suggested that excluding them would help Israel rebuild its credibility and improve its relationships with Democrats and Republicans in the United States.
The two publications noted that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, as ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition, have overseen policies perceived as discriminatory against Israel’s Arab minority and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Both Arabnews and The Times of Israel reported that Ackman’s call for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s exclusion reflects a desire among Trump’s circles for Netanyahu to drop his far-right allies after the vote to form a ‘unity government’ with opposition parties.
Arabnews and The Times of Israel also reported that thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for an independent inquiry into the attack that killed around 1,200 people.
Both Arabnews and The Times of Israel reported that representatives for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In summary, Arabnews and The Times of Israel agree that Ackman urged the exclusion of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from the next Israeli government, citing reputational damage and discriminatory policies, and that this call reflects a desire for Netanyahu to distance himself from far-right allies.
What this adds
Ackman’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among some international observers and political circles regarding the impact of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s policies on Israel’s international standing.
What's confirmed
- JERUSALEM: Billionaire American investor Bill Ackman on Sunday said that Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich should not serve in Israel’s next government, saying the two far-right politicians had caused enormous damage to the country’s reputation.
- Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party is projected to win around 10 parliamentary seats at Tuesday’s election, up from 6, while Smotrich’s Religious Zionism is projected to win 8, up from 7.
- Ackman, who was visiting Israel last week, and who along with his wife Neri Oxman owns 5 percent of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, supported Donald Trump’s candidacy for president in 2024.
- Speaking at a Tel Aviv conference on Thursday, Ackman praised Netanyahu, who he said had done a good job in protecting and defending Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
- “This will allow Israel to rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and enjoy a better relationship with Democrats and Republicans and Americans at large,” he said.
- As ministers in Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have overseen policies widely perceived as discriminatory against Israel’s minority Arab population and Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.
- Representatives for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Nimrod Goren, the president of Israeli think tank Mitvim, said Ackman’s statement appeared to reflect a desire among Trump’s circles for Netanyahu to drop his far-right allies after the vote to form a ‘unity government’ with opposition parties.
What's still developing
- I said I wasn’t going to weigh in on who should be prime minister of Israel as that is a decision for Israeli citizens.