According to a report in the Maariv newspaper, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu against appointing the extremist MK Itamar Ben Gvir to any right-wing government that Netanyahu plans to form following the Knesset elections early next month.
Menendez reportedly informed Netanyahu that if right-wing extremist Ben Gvir were to become a part of a future administration, it would be detrimental to ties between the United States and Israel.
Menendez is regarded as one of the most important and influential individuals in the US Congress and the country as a whole, particularly when it comes to Washington’s foreign policy and relations with Israel, noting that “the American position may be more negative towards a government in which Ben Gvir is a member.”
Two American sources with knowledge of the situation said that at a discussion he had with Netanyahu last month outside of his trip to Israel, Mr.
Menendez highlighted his concern over his political alliance with members of the extreme right, particularly with Itamar Ben Gvir, the leader of the Otzma Yehudit party.
Menendez expressed strong worries to Netanyahu about the inclusion of radical and divisive figures like Ben Gvir in the future Israeli cabinet, according to the sources, which greatly strained their relationship.
She stated, “But the Democratic senator did not back down from his statements and continued his attempts to pressure the head of the Israeli opposition with this subject, despite Netanyahu’s wrath and his assertion of his discontent with Menendez’s words.
For his part, Senator Menendez warned Netanyahu that joining a coalition of this sort with Ben Gvir may seriously erode the bipartisan support in the US, which has long been the cornerstone of bilateral ties between Washington and Tel Aviv.
The Democratic Party, the US Congress, and the administration of US President Joe Biden all view Ben Gvir and MK Bezalel Smotrich as anti-Semites who advocate for Jewish supremacy.
Senior members of the US government are also worried that Ben Gvir would end up serving as a minister in the new Israeli government if Netanyahu wins the elections and is given the responsibility of establishing a government.
The article came to the conclusion that Ben Gvir, who is regarded as one of Netanyahu’s closest allies in the Knesset, will run in the upcoming November 1 Knesset elections on the “Religious Zionism” list headed by MK Bezalel Smotrich.
America cautions Netanyahu against appointing Ben Gvir to a future administration
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