Key Takeaways
- • Bill Ackman argues Israel should form a government without Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, whose rhetoric he says has caused "enormous reputational damage" abroad.
- • Ackman says a government without the two ministers would signal that "Israel is turning a new page" and could help rebuild credibility, expand the Abraham Accords, and improve ties with both Democrats and Republicans.
- • Ackman praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wartime handling and said reduced Middle East risk and resolution of the Iranian issue could yield a "peace dividend."
- • Ackman said Israel's small population could be an advantage in the AI era because concentrated talent may matter more than workforce size.
- • Ackman and his wife, Neri Oxman, invested in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after the October 7 attacks, following about an hour of discussion.
Summary
Billion-dollar investor Bill Ackman has warned that Israel's far-right ministers are damaging the country's standing abroad, arguing in a post on X that a government formed without Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, could restore international credibility and improve relations with both parties in the United States. Ackman wrote that he had said he would not weigh in on who should be prime minister, a decision for Israeli citizens, but wanted to offer a view from someone who understands how Israel is perceived in America. He said statements by the two ministers are often interpreted abroad as representing the voice and will of all Israelis, regardless of whether that reflects most Israelis' views.
Ackman said such a government would "send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page," and could help Israel rebuild lost credibility and expand the Abraham Accords. The comments follow his recent visit to Israel, where he spoke at the ARC innovation summit at Sheba Medical Center alongside the hospital's director general, Prof. Yitshak Kreiss. There he expressed confidence in Israel's economic prospects and praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war, saying the level of risk in the Middle East had dropped significantly and that resolving the Iranian issue would yield a major "peace dividend." He stopped short of endorsing a candidate in the upcoming election.
Ackman also argued that Israel's small population could become an advantage in the artificial intelligence era, stating, "I believe Israel will become one of the best economies in the world," and that "what matters today is the concentration of talent within the country." He and his wife, Israeli-born scientist and designer Neri Oxman, invested in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after the October 7 attacks, a decision he said followed about an hour of discussion. Since October 7, Ackman has been a prominent US voice on Israel, including his campaign against university leaders over their handling of antisemitism and anti-Israel protests.
Ackman said such a government would "send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page," and could help Israel rebuild lost credibility and expand the Abraham Accords. The comments follow his recent visit to Israel, where he spoke at the ARC innovation summit at Sheba Medical Center alongside the hospital's director general, Prof. Yitshak Kreiss. There he expressed confidence in Israel's economic prospects and praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war, saying the level of risk in the Middle East had dropped significantly and that resolving the Iranian issue would yield a major "peace dividend." He stopped short of endorsing a candidate in the upcoming election.
Ackman also argued that Israel's small population could become an advantage in the artificial intelligence era, stating, "I believe Israel will become one of the best economies in the world," and that "what matters today is the concentration of talent within the country." He and his wife, Israeli-born scientist and designer Neri Oxman, invested in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after the October 7 attacks, a decision he said followed about an hour of discussion. Since October 7, Ackman has been a prominent US voice on Israel, including his campaign against university leaders over their handling of antisemitism and anti-Israel protests.
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