Key Takeaways
- • Bill Ackman, billionaire investor and director of Pershing Square, publicly called on October 25, 2026 for National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to be excluded from Israel's next government, days before the Israeli election.
- • Ackman argued the two ministers have caused Israel "enormous reputational damage" through their statements and actions, which global media present as representing the voice of all Israelis.
- • Ackman said a government formed without them would signal that Israel is "turning a new page," and could help rebuild credibility, expand the Abraham Accords, and improve relations with both US parties.
- • Ben-Gvir acknowledged the importance of diplomatic relations earlier in the month, but said they should not come "at the expense of our fighters and our soldiers."
Summary
Bill Ackman, a Jewish billionaire investor and director of the New York hedge fund Pershing Square, condemned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a Sunday post on Twitter/X, published on October 25, 2026 and reported by The Jerusalem Post. The post came just days before the Israeli election and urged that the next government not include either minister.
Ackman wrote that the two ministers "have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions, which are presented in the global media as representing the voice and will of all Israelis." He said that a government formed without them "will send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page." Ackman framed his view as coming from someone who understands how Israel is perceived in the United States. He argued that excluding the two would allow Israel to "rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and enjoy a better relationship with Democrats and Republicans and Americans at large."
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have drawn significant international criticism, including from many of Israel's allies in the United States, for their extremist views and statements. Earlier in the month, during an English-language election campaign event, Ben-Gvir acknowledged that diplomacy matters to national security but said it should not take precedence over the nation's soldiers. Responding to a question submitted by The Jerusalem Post, he said, "I think there's a great importance to our diplomatic relations and connections. It's important that we look good on the world stage. But not at the expense of our fighters and our soldiers."
Ackman wrote that the two ministers "have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions, which are presented in the global media as representing the voice and will of all Israelis." He said that a government formed without them "will send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page." Ackman framed his view as coming from someone who understands how Israel is perceived in the United States. He argued that excluding the two would allow Israel to "rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and enjoy a better relationship with Democrats and Republicans and Americans at large."
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have drawn significant international criticism, including from many of Israel's allies in the United States, for their extremist views and statements. Earlier in the month, during an English-language election campaign event, Ben-Gvir acknowledged that diplomacy matters to national security but said it should not take precedence over the nation's soldiers. Responding to a question submitted by The Jerusalem Post, he said, "I think there's a great importance to our diplomatic relations and connections. It's important that we look good on the world stage. But not at the expense of our fighters and our soldiers."
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