Netanyahu Preparing for Broad Government, Excluding Ben-Gvir, Sources Fear

Sources close to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir express concern that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is laying the groundwork for a "broad national government" after the upcoming elections that may not include Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party. Ben-Gvir's associates interpret Netanyahu's shift in rhetoric from "full-full right-wing government" to "broad national government" as a sign that the Prime Minister is seeking flexibility in coalition building.

These sources suggest that if election results allow Netanyahu to bring in parties from the center or the left, he might prefer a government where his Likud party is not the most moderate faction. They point to the current coalition's structure, where right-wing partners are numerous and strong, as not necessarily Netanyahu's preferred configuration if he had free rein.

Ben-Gvir's camp also recalls the 2009 election, after which Netanyahu formed a government including Ehud Barak and the Labor party, while right-wing parties like the National Union were excluded. This historical precedent, they argue, illustrates Netanyahu's potential preference for broader coalitions over exclusive reliance on right-wing parties when politically feasible.

Further fueling these concerns are perceived slights during the election campaign, such as Netanyahu not appearing with Ben-Gvir at the Altalena event and maneuvers surrounding surplus vote agreements between right-wing parties. These are seen by Ben-Gvir's supporters as signals of Likud distancing itself from Otzma Yehudit and preparing for post-election scenarios.

However, the Likud party is actively pushing back against these interpretations. They are projecting a message of reassurance, stating that Ben-Gvir will "continue to be a full partner" and that there is no intention of excluding Otzma Yehudit. The Likud maintains that the intention is to form a right-wing government that includes Ben-Gvir, provided the right-wing bloc's election results permit it.