Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could seek to form his next government without Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to an assessment from a senior Netanyahu adviser cited by JNS Israel.
The adviser said Netanyahu and members of his inner circle have grown dissatisfied with Ben-Gvir’s conduct over the past four years and believe that, if the election results give Netanyahu another path to a majority, he may prefer not to rely on Otzma Yehudit.
The assessment is also tied to Netanyahu’s plans for a possible next term. Netanyahu will turn 77 after the election, and the adviser suggested that if he succeeds in establishing a stable coalition, he could view it as his final term in office.
In that scenario, Netanyahu could seek to rebuild ties with portions of the Israeli public that have become alienated from him. According to the adviser, Netanyahu’s experience governing alongside Ben-Gvir, his desire to regain broader public legitimacy and the possibility of a final term could all influence his coalition calculations.
Ben-Gvir reacted angrily to the report, calling it “very concerning and infuriating.” He argued that Netanyahu himself had acknowledged that major wartime achievements came after Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot left the government and Ben-Gvir joined.
Ben-Gvir also warned Netanyahu against replacing him with Eisenkot, saying such a move would amount to “spitting in the face of the right-wing voter.” He added that anyone pursuing such a coalition “does not want victory and does not want judicial reform.”
The report comes as Israel heads toward elections and political parties maneuver over the makeup of the next government, with coalition arithmetic expected to determine whether Netanyahu would have the option of forming a government without Ben-Gvir.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
3 Responses
A more centrist government could be better for the country. Maybe it will lead to a compromise on social issues where now each group is pushing their own narrow interests… this is why we daven in a minyan, to make sure your short term interest in dry weather doesn’t trump on farmer’s interest in rain – to grow food that will feed you next year.
Bibi chance of forming a ruling coalition without Ben Gvir is as likely as Ben Gvir supporting a 2-state solution. Just standard lies from Bibi.
The party closest to Likud is the ad hoc movement led by Eisenkot. If they form a government, the ultra-nationalist and Hareidi parties will be seriously weakened.