Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. He claimed the premier promised the United States administration to form a unity government without far-right factions.
Writing on X, Ben-Gvir alleged that Netanyahu planned to partner with his main political challenger Gadi Eisenkot after the election. The accusation followed an Israel Hayom report about a United States push for a broad coalition.
According to the report, United States President Donald Trump is pressing for a unity administration involving Netanyahu and Eisenkot. Sources indicated Netanyahu signalled behind closed doors a willingness to drop his far-right allies to advance regional normalisation.
This shift aims to advance the Abraham Accords and establish official diplomatic ties with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia. These political developments coincided with parliamentary elections across Israel on Tuesday.
Citizens cast ballots to decide the composition of the country’s next administration. This vote marks the first general election in Israel since the start of its military offensive in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
Netanyahu dismissed Ben-Gvir’s statements as a political manoeuvre, labelling the allegations an election trick designed to rally right-wing voters to the polls.
"How many times are you going to keep repeating this trick?" Netanyahu wrote in his own post on X. The current premier has led the governing coalition since late 2022.
Alongside domestic political pressures, Netanyahu faces ongoing legal challenges inside Israel. He stands trial on corruption charges that include bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which carry potential prison sentences upon conviction.
The Israeli leader also faces international legal scrutiny over the conflict in Gaza. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu concerning war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The military campaign in Gaza has resulted in massive civilian casualties over the past two years. Health authorities report that the offensive has killed more than 74,000 people and left over 175,000 others injured.
