Netanyahu May Drop Ben-Gvir for Unity Govt If Bloc Falls Short

Maariv journalist and Channel 14 analyst Mati Tuchfeld reported Thursday morning that according to assessments, Prime Minister Netanyahu may be willing to drop National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in exchange for a unity government that would secure his continued rule. According to the report, Ben-Gvir would not be part of the government Netanyahu forms the day after the elections.

"Alongside the battle for right-wing votes, the question of the composition of the next government is also rising, in case Netanyahu's bloc does not achieve 61 mandates," Tuchfeld wrote. He emphasized that a unity government is an option on Netanyahu's table.

He wrote, "If the continuation of Netanyahu's tenure depends on establishing a unity government and removing Itamar Ben-Gvir from the coalition, he will be willing to consider such a move. However, the possibility that Gadi Eisenkot would agree to join a government headed by Netanyahu and grant him the necessary majority seems unlikely at this stage."

The evaluation is that from Netanyahu's perspective, the central consideration will be his ability to continue serving as prime minister, even if this requires him to part ways with existing political partners."

Ben-Gvir himself has repeatedly warned of this scenario, claiming that Netanyahu is planning to abandon him after the elections and form a unity government with Eisenkot.