In Israel, Netanyahu may form a broad national government without Ben-Gvir — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may try after the elections to form a broad national government, leaving outside the coalition the Otzma Yehudit party of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. This assessment is voiced by sources close to Ben-Gvir, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The newspaper's interlocutors link this assessment to a change in Netanyahu's rhetoric. Instead of the slogan of an entirely right-wing government, which he used in previous elections, the prime minister emphasizes the need for a broad national government. Those close to Ben-Gvir consider this a signal of Netanyahu's desire for a more centrist and statesmanlike course.
Possible involvement of centrists
According to Ben-Gvir's associates, Netanyahu does not want a repeat of a situation in which Likud is the most moderate force in the coalition and all its partners are to its right. If the voting results allow it, he could reportedly invite a representative of the opposing political camp into the government. Possible scenarios include the participation of former Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Gadi Eisenkot.
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The sources also noted that Netanyahu did not appear together with Ben-Gvir at the Altalena event. In addition, they interpret his actions regarding surplus-vote sharing agreements between right-wing parties as an attempt to increase the distance between Likud and Otzma Yehudit ahead of the elections.
Compromises on judicial reform
Those close to Ben-Gvir suggest that for a centrist party or a party from the opposing camp to join the coalition, Netanyahu would have to abandon some initiatives of the current right-wing government. First and foremost, in their view, this concerns the continuation of judicial reform.
At the same time, they acknowledge that Otzma Yehudit's participation in a right-wing coalition could provide Netanyahu with a stable partner for the entire term of office. If the right-wing bloc wins at least 61 seats in the Knesset, forming a broader government without Ben-Gvir could be risky for the prime minister because of ideological differences with potential centrist parties. If the right-wing bloc does not secure 61 mandates even together with Otzma Yehudit, Ben-Gvir's associates consider seeking a partner from another camp more likely than holding new elections.
