Bill Ackman says Israel needs a new political chapter to restore international credibility
The investor has urged Israel to form a government without Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, arguing that their rhetoric has come to define the country in the eyes of international audiences.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has warned that Israel’s far-right ministers are damaging the country’s standing abroad, arguing that a government formed without Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich could help restore international credibility and improve relations with both Democrats and Republicans in the United States.
“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,” Ackman wrote in a post on X. “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,” he added.
Ackman said that a government formed without the two ministers would “send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page.” Such a change, he argued, could help Israel rebuild lost credibility, expand the Abraham Accords and improve its relationships with Americans across the political spectrum.
The comments follow Ackman’s recent visit to Israel, where he spoke at Sheba Medical Center’s ARC innovation summit with the hospital’s director general, Prof. Yitshak Kreiss. Ackman expressed confidence in Israel’s economic prospects and praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war, while stopping short of endorsing a particular candidate in the upcoming election.
“He has done a good job during the war. Israelis might not feel it, but the level of risk in the Middle East has dropped significantly, while the prospects for peace have improved,” Ackman said of Netanyahu. “If the Iranian issue is resolved, it will yield a major ‘peace dividend.’”
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Ackman’s latest post focuses on the distinction between Israel’s strategic and economic potential and the international image conveyed by members of its government. His argument is that statements by Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, and Smotrich, the finance minister, are often interpreted abroad as representing the broader Israeli public, regardless of whether that reflects the views of most Israelis.
The investor has argued that Israel’s small population could become an advantage in the artificial intelligence era, when a concentrated pool of talent may matter more than the size of the workforce. “I believe Israel will become one of the best economies in the world,” he said at the Sheba event, adding that “what matters today is the concentration of talent within the country.”
Ackman and his wife, Israeli-born scientist and designer Neri Oxman, also invested in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after the October 7 attacks. He said the decision followed just an hour of discussion, reflecting their confidence in Israel despite the uncertainty created by the war.
Ackman’s public support for Israel has extended beyond investment. He became a prominent voice in the United States following the October 7 attacks, including through his campaign against university leaders over their handling of antisemitism and anti-Israel protests. His comments carry particular weight among business and financial audiences, where perceptions of political stability and international relations can affect investment decisions.
