Netanyahu Vows Coalition with Ben-Gvir, Smotrich Amid Accusations
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his intent to form a coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich after the upcoming elections. Ben-Gvir countered by accusing Netanyahu's office of promising European Union nations he would be excluded from the next government. Netanyahu also stated his desire to retain key security portfolios for his Likud party. The upcoming elections are scheduled for October 27, 2026.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to form a coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
- Ben-Gvir accuses Netanyahu's office of promising EU countries he will be excluded from government.
- Netanyahu aims to keep security and defense portfolios within the Likud party.
- Ben-Gvir alleges Likud seeks to reduce his party's representation to five seats.
- The next Israeli elections are scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday his intention to form a new government coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich following the upcoming elections, emphasizing that the partnership with them would continue. However, Ben-Gvir, head of the Otzma Yehudit party, accused Netanyahu's office of officially pledging to European Union countries that he would not be included in the next government.
Netanyahu told reporters he would work to form a "broad national government" but stressed his desire to renew the coalition with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, stating, "Certainly, there is no doubt that we will form the same coalition. We worked well together, as did Smotrich."
In contrast, Ben-Gvir claimed to have recently received "confirmed information" that the Prime Minister's office had formally assured several EU countries that he would not be part of a future government if Netanyahu formed one. Ben-Gvir expressed "deep sadness" over this information, noting he had heard similar reports for a long time. He stated that a clear message was conveyed to these countries, including foreign ministers and higher-level officials, indicating Netanyahu's intention to exclude him.
Ben-Gvir also accused the Likud party of attempting to diminish his party's influence in the elections, suggesting Likud's current goal is to reduce Otzma Yehudit's representation to five seats. In a related development, Netanyahu indicated his intention to keep the Security, Defense, and National Security portfolios within the Likud party, if election results permit, despite his commitment to partnering with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
The divergence between Netanyahu's statements and Ben-Gvir's accusations highlights a dispute over the composition of the next government and the role of the Otzma Yehudit party, ahead of the Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, 2026. Ben-Gvir did not publicly disclose the specific European countries to which Netanyahu's office allegedly made these assurances.
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