Netanyahu's associates signal openness to excluding Ben-Gvir from unity government

Associates of Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly signaled to Gadi Eisenkot that Likud would not insist on including Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party in a potential unity government, citing international pressure. Likud denied the report.

Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have conveyed messages to Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot, who received the mandate to form the government, stating that if talks on establishing a unity government begin, Netanyahu and Likud will not insist on including Otzma Yehudit. The move comes amid assessments that Eisenkot will succeed in forming a government and removing Netanyahu from his position, despite Netanyahu's campaign promise to keep his partners, including Itamar Ben Gvir. A source in the change bloc questioned how this aligns with the promise to Ben Gvir, and was told: "There is already international criticism of Ben Gvir's conduct. He simply will not join." The article notes that in late September, ynet reported that sources close to US President Donald Trump had come out against Ben Gvir and demanded that Netanyahu not include him in the next government. Additionally, even before the elections, Netanyahu made it clear that he did not intend to give Ben Gvir the portfolios of Public Security, Defense, or Justice.