Netanyahu Signals Exclusion of Far-Right in Potential Post-Election Government
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly signaled to Western diplomats that he will exclude the far-right from his next government, aiming for a broad coalition to advance regional initiatives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly signaled to European and American diplomats that he intends to exclude the far-right, specifically Itamar Ben Gvir's "Otzma Yehudit" party, from any future government he forms following the upcoming October 27, 2026 Knesset elections. According to diplomatic sources, Netanyahu aims to establish a broad government that includes centrist parties, viewing the extreme right as a diplomatic liability that blocks major initiatives, such as Saudi normalization.
Diplomatic Pressures and Regional Initiatives
Western and Arab interlocutors noted that Netanyahu's outreach emphasizes a departure from the far-right elements, pointing to past tensions over settler violence in the West Bank and inflammatory rhetoric. A Gulf diplomatic source told the press that Saudi Arabia remains resistant to joining the Abraham Accords while parts of the Israeli government openly advocate for policies displacing Palestinians. European Union Ambassador to Israel Michael Mann echoed similar concerns, warning that settler violence is driving European nations to consider unprecedented sanctions against Israel.
Political Realities and Coalition Prospects
Despite Netanyahu's stated desire for a broad coalition, political analysts and rival factions remain skeptical. While Likud's campaign slogans pivot toward a "broad government" and Netanyahu has notably distanced himself from Itamar Ben Gvir, questions remain regarding his ability to secure a parliamentary majority with non-extreme allies. Meanwhile, "Yashar!" party leader Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out serving in a government led by Netanyahu, holding him primarily responsible for the October 7 failures, though he acknowledged potential future partnerships with a post-Netanyahu Likud leadership.
"The Likud is a partner, on condition that anyone responsible for the October 7 disaster is not in the leadership," Eisenkot stated during a recent conference.
As political alliances shift ahead of the 26th Knesset elections, the debate over a broad coalition versus a narrow right-wing government remains the central axis of the Israeli political campaign.
