Ackman urges Netanyahu to exclude Ben-Gvir, Smotrich — SkimNews
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- Bill Ackman said on Oct. 25 that Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich should not serve in Israel’s next government, accusing them of causing Israel “enormous reputational damage” through their statements and actions.
- Bill Ackman said excluding the two ministers would let Israel “turn a new page,” rebuild lost credibility, expand opportunities for the Abraham Accords and improve relations with Democrats, Republicans and Americans.
- Britain was among the countries, alongside Canada and Australia, that sanctioned Ben-Gvir and Smotrich over accusations that they incited violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
- Jewish Power is projected to win around 10 seats on Tuesday, up from 6, while Religious Zionism is projected to win eight, up from seven, as polls show a tight race between Netanyahu’s coalition and the opposition.
- Benjamin Netanyahu was praised by Ackman at a Tel Aviv conference on Thursday, with the investor saying he had done a good job protecting and defending Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
- Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu for prime minister last week, while Ackman had supported Trump’s candidacy for president in 2024.
- Nimrod Goren said Ackman’s statement appeared to reflect a desire among Trump’s circles for Netanyahu to drop the two allies after the vote and form a unity government, but Gadi Eisenkot and other opposition leaders ruled out forming a government with Netanyahu.
Why it matters: Ackman’s intervention is narrower than a challenge to Netanyahu: he praised the prime minister and targeted only Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, whose parties are projected to win 18 seats combined. Yet Eisenkot and other opposition leaders ruled out governing with Netanyahu, leaving the unity-government scenario Goren described without an opposition participant.
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