The US administration and some Jewish organizations in the US are “concerned” about the possibility of Otzma Yehudit chairman MK Itamar Ben-Gvir being appointed as a minister in the future government of Binyamin Netanyahu, Yisrael Hayom reported on Wednesday evening.
A Biden administration official told Yisrael Hayom that “the administration is following the political developments with concern and is disturbed by the possibility that the Otzma Yehudit chairman will be appointed a minister in a future government in Israel.”
“Of course, we are following what is happening. It’s too early to comment on the matter, but if things come to a point where such a scenario is on the agenda, there is no doubt that the administration will clarify its position. For us, this will be a huge problem,” he asserted, adding that the opposition chairman, Netanyahu, is well aware of the issues.
“Anyone who has common sense understands the problem. Look at the man’s history – his actions and his statements. This is not someone we want to see as part of a government. Netanyahu is very smart and experienced and understands the consequences of such a development. We haven’t discussed it with him yet since, as mentioned, we’re at an early stage. But there is no doubt that he understands.”
An unnamed “senior leader of American Jewry,” who according to the report is not politically progressive, was harsher in his comments, telling Yisrael Hayom that the inclusion of Ben-Gvir in an Israeli government will create a very difficult problem for him and his colleagues. “Our efforts in defending Israel are focused on ensuring that it maintains its legitimacy to present its positions and can be trusted even in cases where there are concerns that mistakes were made. But Ben-Gvir becoming a minister in the government will take away our ability to defend Israel.”
“In American terms, it is like the Ku Klux Klan in the Israeli government. It’s an insurmountable issue. We’ll have no ability to defend it,” he claimed.
The senior Jewish official rejected Ben Gvir’s recent overtures [when he clarified that some of his past statements, such as “Death to Arabs” were mistaken] as not being credible. However, he added that Ben-Gvir supporting the government from the outside or joining a coalition without being appointed as a minister could be a tolerable compromise.
The Otzma Yehudit party responded: “It turns out that there is no limit to the cynical exploitation of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in his position, who is now trying to drag a US official into interfering in the Israeli election process via false reports. Lapid is destroying Israel’s foreign relations and ceding its sovereignty for political interests.”
“Regarding that ‘source’ from the Reform community – we understand the zeal of the Reform in the US to try to prevent the establishment of a right-wing government in Israel but it won’t help – we’ll establish a strong and stable right-wing government.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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22 Responses
And having Jew hating arabs in the government is okay?
And who are these concerned “American Jews” if not the reform?
יושב בשמים ישחק
Sounds like election interference to me
It is none of the USA’s business whom the Israeli people elect, or what kind of government emerges. It’s a chutzpah for the US administration to express even an opinion on the matter.
US should stay OUT of interference in Israeli politics. If you are an Israeli citizen then you can vote. Otherwise shut up
We desperately need the likes of Ben-Gvir & Moreinu HoRav Meir Kahane זצקללה”ה back in the Israeli Government & Cabinet, and I simply cannot stress sufficiently how paramount & urgent this is is.
tell these progressive liberal idiots to mind their own business
yet biden tolerates anti Semites like omar and tlaib in his own party.
Western Governments around the world are busy to stop Russia, China and other interfering in their elections – what are they doing? Exactly the same!
the Brandon administration should shut up and stop telling Israel what to do
It’s Obama and his cabal including Susan rice working through the puppet administration to affect the election. Barry meddled against bibi years ago and his hatred of Israel has not abated. He is a black liberation nationalist which champion virulent antisemitic views.
I guess this is Hillary’s position!
It’s amazing how nothing else in the world is important to these swamp creatures except to meddle into another sovereign country’s internal political election. There is no migration at the south border that is important nor the crime spikes around the world, including American cities, the gaffes of the president and his vice: the only thing that matters to them is who Yoram and Shulamit vote for! Who Chaim and Yefet vote for! America is falling faster than anyone could have imagined.
The saddest part of this story, by far, is that American Jewish “leaders” feel the need to defend Israel. Jews should be condemning the Zionist shmad “State”, not defending it.
BaltimoreMaven:
Maybe “Eretz HaKodesh” should have thought of that before deceiving tens of thousands of Jews into becoming Zionists R”L and voting in the recent WZO elections that precipitated COVID.
As a new Israeli citizen I am unsure about Ben gvir. If his policies are backed by torah and yiras shmayim then there’s nothing wrong with supporting him.
I wish I could meet him
HaKatan im impressed He’s Rav Elya Brudnys driver. How’d he let your comment survive “ consideration “ ?
HaKatan you are a רשע. go move to Iran
ברוך שלא עשני נטורי קרתא
Why would Israel take advice from this filthy treasonous Marxist administration. Led by a demented Alzheimer diseased hair sniffing pervert
If there’s a Republican Congress come November Israel will have this blustering buffoonish administration back on its disoriented heels. Vote!
I think Israel now has to comment on american officials!
see how that goes over
if Biden can read lips he can read mine…..take your dirty lying Hunter and run
Biden is a pervert
Does Biden know where Israel is, or is he too busy mumbling-“right foot first, left food next.” and -“chew before swallowing.”?