US Aides Seek Israeli Cabinet Shift to Drop Two Ministers

Ordinary Israelis may face a government that looks different if US advisers succeed in reshaping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. Officials close to President Donald Trump are promoting a broad, moderate unity government that would remove National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from the cabinet. This move aims to streamline Israel's diplomatic posture for the remainder of the American president's term.

Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, publicly supported the framework on Sunday. In a social media post, he argued that the presence of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich harms Israel's international image. He stated that a moderate coalition would help restore the country's standing, expand the Abraham Accords, and improve relations with both major US political parties. Ackman endorsed Netanyahu's leadership while advocating for a change in his partners.

The push is driven by the desire to secure a historic normalization deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump officials believe this agreement is difficult to advance with the current ministers in office. Riyadh demands tangible progress on the Palestinian issue, so simply swapping coalition partners does not guarantee success. However, US strategists view a cabinet without the two hardliners as a necessary step toward that diplomatic breakthrough.

Tensions between Washington and Jerusalem complicate the effort. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reportedly frustrated by the speed of Israel's implementation of Trump's Gaza plan. Special Envoy Tom Barrick disagrees with Israel's approach to Syria, while officials around Secretary of State Marco Rubio want a stronger Lebanese government. These groups also express frustration over inaction regarding Jewish activity in Judea and Samaria.

Some in Trump's circle doubt a breakthrough is possible while Netanyahu remains prime minister. This has led to the proposal of a rotation deal. Under this plan, Netanyahu would serve for the first year, then another leader would take over to negotiate with Saudi Arabia. Supporters argue this provides initial continuity while handing regional diplomacy to a figure unconnected to the current hardline partners.

Netanyahu has indicated openness to the idea. Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said the prime minister prefers a national unity government to the current coalition. Leiter also noted that Netanyahu has made clear he will not serve as national security minister again. However, Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot and former prime minister Naftali Bennett remain opposed to serving under Netanyahu. US officials have not yet raised the specific framework with them.

Political obstacles remain high. If Netanyahu's bloc wins 61 mandates, he likely gets the first chance to form a government, but Eisenkot and Bennett may still decline. Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding passage of the conscription bill before talks begin. Ben-Gvir has urged Netanyahu to form a right-wing government instead. Trump has not formally endorsed the initiative, and Vice President JD Vance did not join the presidential endorsement on October 18. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee denied that the administration is dictating actions to the prime minister.