Officials in the Biden Administration expressed concern this week over the possibility that next month’s Israeli election could see Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu return to office.
The officials were particularly concerned about the possibility that Religious Zionism chairperson and MK Bezalel Smotrich and his faction partner, Otzma Yehudit chair and MK Itamar Ben Gvir, could be appointed to the cabinet as ministers in a Netanyahu government.
The faction is expected to win at least 13 seats, according to the latest polls, which would make it the third largest party in the country.
Both Israeli and US officials said White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed the administrations concerns to Israeli President Isaac Herzog this week during his meetings at the White House.
Herzog told the officials, however, that it is too early to know which faction will end up leading the country and urged the Biden administration to ‘let democracy do its thing.’
“Every country has problems in its political system. You experience this here in the US too,” Herzog said, according to Axios journalist Barak Ravid.
The US officials reportedly emphasized, however, the administration would continue to “fully support” Israel regardless of who leads the country.
Herzog also issued a statement this weekend condemning a vicious attack Friday on the husband of Congressional Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Paul Pelosi, 82, suffered a fractured skull after being beaten with a hammer by an intruder in their San Francisco home. He is expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
“Shocked by the vicious attack on Paul Pelosi and relieved that my friend Speaker Pelosi, who welcomed me so kindly this week, is safe,” Herzog said. “Attacks on elected officials and their families are attacks on democracy itself. On behalf of the people of Israel, praying for Paul’s recovery.”
