Recently, some Israelis have criticized billionaire Bill Ackman for sharing his views on how key Israeli candidates for the Knesset are viewed by Americans, particularly as the country approaches its election on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the manager of the Pershing Square hedge fund expressed that while he didn’t intend to take a stance on the Israeli prime minister debate, he felt compelled to “provide one viewpoint from someone who understands how Israel is seen in America.”
Ackman specifically mentioned Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, arguing that their actions and words have inflicted “enormous reputational damage” on Israel, with international media portraying them as representatives of the entire nation.
He suggested that a government without these ministers could indicate that Israel is moving forward, potentially restoring its credibility, broadening the Abraham Accords, and improving ties with major U.S. political factions.
I said I wasn’t going to weigh in on who should be prime minister of Israel as that is a decision for Israeli citizens. I did, however, want to share one point of view from the perspective of someone who has an understanding of how Israel is perceived in America. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions which are presented in the global media as representing the voice and will of all Israelis. As such, a government formed without Ben-Gvir and Smotrich will send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page. This will allow Israel to rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and enjoy a better relationship with Democrats and Republicans and Americans at large.
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 25, 2026
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have faced international backlash for their controversial perspectives, including from the United States, a key ally of Israel.
Smotrich has controversially claimed that it could be “justified and moral” to allow two million Palestinian civilians to suffer from hunger in order to pressure Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages taken on October 7. He also stated that his previous comments about “wiping out” the West Bank town of Huwara were simply a “slip of the tongue.”
Ben-Gvir, too, has made provocative remarks, receiving condemnation from the U.S. State Department after asserting that the rights of Israelis to use roads in Judea and Samaria outweigh the movement rights of Arabs.
Recently, he drew ire again after boasting about seizing an “improvised cake” made by Palestinian prisoners using saved rations, a cake they had planned to celebrate with if his party were to lose the election.
“The prisoners were brought to disciplinary trial and transferred to solitary confinement,” Ben-Gvir stated, while urging voters to support his party.
In response to Ackman’s comments, some prominent Israelis defended Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, asserting they are products of Israel’s political landscape and reflect the concerns of many right-leaning Israelis.
Gilad Zwick, a Channel 14 journalist and former communications adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu, acknowledged that while he has not supported Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, he believes they should have a voice in the government, arguing that many foreign perspectives miss why they have domestic support.
Zwick highlighted the realities of Israel’s political environment, noting that Netanyahu, although often avoiding association with Ben-Gvir, has relied on him for coalition-building purposes.
He pointed out that right-wing voters back Ben-Gvir and Smotrich primarily due to their hardline stances on Palestine, driven by a sense of siege in a region perceived as hostile. For many Israelis, the tough attitudes of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich convey an essential message: don’t test us. They feel that past belief in moderation was a gamble with their children’s safety.
Ackman thinks that the job of the Israeli government is to look good in the eyes of the gentiles instead of defending its citizens against the Jihad. Sad! Pro tip Bill: people respect you when you are strong.
— Yishai Fleisher يشاي ישי פליישר 🕎 (@YishaiFleisher) October 25, 2026
Knesset candidate Yishai Fleisher responded sharply, stating, “Ackman thinks that the job of the Israeli government is to look good in the eyes of the Gentiles instead of defending its citizens against the Jihad. Sad!”
National security researcher Khaled Hassan took a different stance, suggesting that the identity of Israeli leadership is not as significant, asserting that widespread anti-Israel sentiments in the Arab world would persist regardless of electoral outcomes.
He shared his own experiences of hostility towards Israel, maintaining that it stemmed from deeply ingrained prejudices rather than the actions of specific leaders. Hassan argued that leaders in the Arab world demonstrate a blatant antisemitism yet remain shielded from similar criticisms aimed at Israel based on the conduct of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
Polling data compiled by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency indicates that Ben-Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party could gain a seat or two in the upcoming election, while Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party could lose a seat or maintain its current standing. Both parties are expected to remain in the minority, relying on Netanyahu’s ability to secure a right-wing governing coalition.
