Trump Advisers Push for Israeli Unity Government Without Ben-Gvir and Smotrich

Voices close to US President Donald Trump are promoting the creation of a broad and moderate Israeli unity government that would exclude National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Some have even floated a rotation deal in which Benjamin Netanyahu would be prime minister first.

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot and former prime minister Naftali Bennett remain opposed to serving under Netanyahu, and American officials have not yet raised the framework with them.

On Sunday, American billionaire Bill Ackman publicly urged the formation of such a government. Ackman, who heads the hedge fund Pershing Square, backed Trump in the presidential election and is seen as an influential figure in US political and business circles. In a social media post, he argued that a broad, moderate coalition would help Israel restore its international standing, expand the Abraham Accords and improve ties with both major US parties.

Ackman said the presence of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich damages Israel's global image and its ability to pursue key diplomatic goals. He praised Netanyahu and his relationship with Trump, and he wants the prime minister to stay in office with a different set of coalition partners.

He is not alone, according to several sources. Other figures in Washington believe that Trump's ambitious Middle East plans for the remaining two years of his term depend on a change in the makeup of Israel's government. Chief among those plans is a possible historic normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, which would be hard to advance with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in the cabinet. Riyadh also has its own demands, including tangible progress on the Palestinian issue, so replacing coalition partners would not guarantee an agreement.

Tension between Washington and Jerusalem already exists. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reportedly frustrated by how quickly Netanyahu is moving on Trump's Gaza plan. Special Envoy Tom Barrick disagrees with Israel's approach to Syria, and officials around Secretary of State Marco Rubio want to strengthen the Lebanese government while voicing frustration over inaction on Jewish violence in Judea and Samaria.

Some in Trump's circle doubt a diplomatic breakthrough is possible while Netanyahu is prime minister. That has produced the rotation idea: Netanyahu would serve for the first year, then another prime minister would take over to negotiate with the Saudis before Trump's term ends. Supporters say this would give continuity at first and then hand regional diplomacy to a leader not tied to Netanyahu's current partners.

According to several Israeli and American sources, Netanyahu told Trump he wants a unity government and will work toward one after the election. Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said publicly that Netanyahu prefers a national unity government to the current coalition, and that Netanyahu has made clear he would not serve as national security minister again. Otzma Yehudit officials reacted sharply, fearing a coalition with Eisenkot at their expense. Ben-Gvir urged Netanyahu to form a right-wing government instead.

Trump has not formally endorsed the initiative. He publicly backed Netanyahu on October 18, though several advisers had reservations and Vice President JD Vance did not join the endorsement. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denied any American effort to push a unity government, saying the administration does not intervene in Israeli elections or dictate actions to the prime minister.

The politics are also difficult. If Netanyahu's bloc wins 61 mandates, he would likely get the first chance to form a government, but it is doubtful that Eisenkot or Bennett would join. Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding passage of the conscription bill before coalition talks, and Netanyahu's natural partners would press him on earlier commitments. If the right-wing bloc falls short of a majority, Netanyahu may not be given the first opportunity at all. Even within the right-wing bloc, few expect Eisenkot or Bennett to agree to a partnership they have pledged to avoid.