Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has waded into Israel's election campaign, urging the country's next governing coalition to leave out two far-right ministers whose rhetoric and policies, he argues, have tarnished Israel's image abroad. In a post on X, Ackman singled out National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, saying their statements and actions are being portrayed globally as representing the views of all Israelis.
"Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions which are presented in the global media as representing the voice and will of all Israelis," Ackman wrote. He added that as someone familiar with how Israel is perceived in the United States, he believes their controversial positions often skew international coverage.
Ackman, a prominent supporter of Israel, argued that a government formed without the two ministers would signal a fresh start. "As such, a government formed without Ben-Gvir and Smotrich will send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page," he said. He predicted this would help Israel rebuild lost credibility, expand the Abraham Accords, and improve relations with both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S.
He stopped short of endorsing any candidate for prime minister, saying that decision should be left to Israeli voters. His comments land just two days before Israel's election on Oct. 27, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking another term against a field of challengers, most notably former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the centrist Yashar party.
Recent polls show Eisenkot's party slightly ahead of Netanyahu's Likud, but neither bloc appears to have a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government in Israel's 120-member parliament. No single party has ever won a majority outright.
Netanyahu has campaigned on his close ties with former President Trump, who has endorsed him, and on the threat posed by Iran. Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party, and Smotrich, head of Religious Zionism, have both drawn international criticism for their extreme views on Palestinians and for their support of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The intervention by Ackman, who has been vocal on Middle East affairs, adds to the scrutiny of the far-right's role in Israeli politics. As the election approaches, the question of whether such figures will be included in the next coalition is a key issue for voters and for Israel's international standing. For more on how U.S. political dynamics are shifting, see recent polling trends in American races. And as regional tensions persist, energy markets remain volatile, as highlighted in this analysis of oil price spikes.
