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Billionaire Bill Ackman Criticizes Israeli Ministers, Citing Reputational Damage
American Jewish billionaire investor Bill Ackman has publicly criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, stating that their actions and statements have caused immense damage to Israel's international image. In a post on the social media platform X, Ackman suggested that forming a government without them would signal a new chapter for the country.
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What happened
- 01Billionaire Bill Ackman stated that Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have caused immense reputational damage to Israel.
- 02Ackman suggested that forming an Israeli government without the two ministers would signal a new chapter to the world.
- 03He believes excluding them would help restore credibility, improve US relations, and help expand the Abraham Accords.
- 04Ackman clarified that he is not commenting on who should be prime minister, as that decision belongs to Israeli citizens.
- 05The investor has been a prominent and vocal supporter of Israel in the United States since the October 7 attacks.
- 06Ackman and his wife, Neri Oxman, recently visited Israel to attend the ARC Innovation Conference at Sheba Medical Center.
- 07Despite his political criticism, Ackman expressed optimism about Israel's economic future and its potential in the technology sector.
According to Ackman, the statements and actions of the two ministers are portrayed by global media as representative of all Israelis, harming the nation's reputation. He argued that excluding them from a future government would help restore lost credibility, improve relations with both Democrats and Republicans in the United States, and increase the chances of expanding the Abraham Accords.
Ackman clarified that he does not intend to interfere in internal Israeli politics or dictate who should serve as prime minister, emphasizing that the choice remains with Israeli citizens. He shared his perspective based on how Israel is currently perceived in the United States, where he has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the October 7 attacks.
The billionaire's comments follow a recent visit to Israel with his wife, Neri Oxman, during which they attended the ARC Innovation Conference at Sheba Medical Center. Despite his criticisms of the ministers, Ackman expressed optimism about Israel's economic future, particularly its potential in the technology and artificial intelligence sectors, where he and Oxman have previously invested in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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