Netanyahu may seek broad national government after election, sources in Ben-Gvir's camp believe

Sources close to Itamar Ben-Gvir believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a preliminary decision to form a broad national government after the election, potentially leaving Otzma Yehudit outside the coalition. The assessment is based on Netanyahu's shift in messaging from a "full, full right-wing government" to a "broad national government," as well as his distancing from Ben-Gvir during the campaign. Ben-Gvir's associates point to historical precedents and signs indicating this direction, though the article lacks input from Netanyahu's camp or independent analysts.

Sources close to Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already made a preliminary decision to try to form a broad national government after the election, even at the cost of leaving Ben-Gvir outside the coalition. According to sources familiar with discussions in Ben-Gvir's circle, Netanyahu's change in messaging, from the "full, full right-wing government" slogan used in previous elections to the current emphasis on a "broad national government," is seen as a sign that he is seeking to move in a more statesmanlike and centrist direction this time. The sources claim that Ben-Gvir believes Netanyahu does not want to repeat a term in which he himself is positioned as the coalition's leftmost member, with all his partners to his right. In their assessment, if election results allow it, Netanyahu would prefer to bring in a figure from the opposing camp, and in one possible scenario even former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, while leaving Ben-Gvir outside the government. Ben-Gvir's associates point to several signs that they say indicate this direction, including Netanyahu's use of the phrase "broad national government," his political relationship with Ben-Gvir during the election campaign, and moves regarding surplus-vote agreements with right-wing parties. They also point to historical precedents: 2009, when Netanyahu brought Ehud Barak and the Labor Party into his government while the National Union remained outside; 2013, when he reached agreements with Tzipi Livni and formed a government with Yesh Atid and the Jewish Home while the haredi parties remained outside; and 2019-2020, when he formed a parity government with Benny Gantz. Ben-Gvir's associates estimate that a move by Netanyahu toward a broader government would require him to give up some of the issues identified with the current right-wing government, foremost among them the continuation of the judicial overhaul. The central question ahead of the day after the election is not only how many seats the right-wing bloc will win, but how much freedom of choice Netanyahu will have.