Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee to Netanyahu: Ben Gabir's inclusion in the government will harm relations with the US

The senior democratic senator warned the leader of the opposition that if he included extreme right-wing figures like Ben Gabir in a future government, this would have negative consequences for the relations between the countries. According to a source privy to the details, Netanyahu tried to oppose the statements, which created tension: "Everyone who was in the room saw How angry Bibi was"

Barak Ravid

01/10/2022

Saturday, October 1, 2022, 7:45 p.m

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In the video: MK Ben Gvir arrived at the Blich school and the winds are stormy (still photography: Reuven Castro, video photography: Niv Aharonson)

The chairman of the US Senate's foreign affairs committee, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, warned opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu that if he includes extreme right-wing elements such as MK Itamar Ben Gabir in a future government, it will have negative consequences for relations between the United States and Israel - according to two American sources who were present in a meeting between the two.

"Could damage relations between the countries."

Robert Menendez (Photo: Reuters)

why is it important:

• Menendez is considered one of the most Israel-friendly senators in the Democratic Party and leads the most hawkish line in the party against returning to the nuclear agreement with Iran.

  Menendez even voted against the nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015.

• In light of his seniority and his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Menendez is one of the most powerful and influential people in the American Congress and in Washington in general when it comes to foreign policy and especially on the Israeli issue.

• Menendez is considered the head of the right wing in the Democratic Party.

  This means that the attitude of most other senators and congressmen in the party may be even more negative towards a government in which Ben Gabir is a member.

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Behind the Scenes:

• Menendez arrived in Israel in early September as part of a delegation of senators led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

  On September 5, members of the delegation met with Netanyahu.

  The meeting began with an embarrassing incident in which Netanyahu tried to film and record the meeting against the wishes of the American senators.

• According to two American sources who are familiar with the contents of the meeting, Menendez raised with Netanyahu his concern about the political partnership he maintains with extreme right-wing elements, especially with "Otzma Yehudit" chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir. Menendez told Netanyahu that he had "serious concerns" that he would combine "Extremist and polarizing elements" like Ben Gabir in a future government if he wins the elections on November 1.

• According to a source privy to the contents of the meeting, Netanyahu did not like Menendez's words and tried to oppose them, which created a lot of tension in the meeting.

  "People who were in the room saw how angry Bibi was," said the source.

• However, the Democratic senator did not retract his words even after Netanyahu expressed his dissatisfaction with them and continued to press Netanyahu on this issue.

• "Senator Menendez told Netanyahu that he must understand that forming a coalition of this type (with Ben-Gvir) could significantly erode bipartisan support in Washington, which has always been the basis of bilateral relations between the United States and Israel," said the source, who is privy to the contents of the meeting.

"See how angry he got."

Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)

The situation:

• In the Biden administration as well as in the American Congress, especially in the Democratic Party, Ben-Gvir and, to a large extent, MK Bezalel Smotrich are seen as racists who support Jewish supremacy. The United States Ambassador to Israel Tom Neides has not met with the two since taking office.

• Journalist Ariel Kahana reported in "Israel Today" on Wednesday that senior officials in the American administration are concerned about the possibility that Ben Gabir will be a minister in the government if Netanyahu wins the elections and forms a government.

  According to the report, even among Jewish organizations in the United States there is a fear of such a scenario and the negative impact on the ability of the pro-Israel community to defend Israel in Washington.

• A senior official in the American government confirmed the words in a conversation with Walla!

  and said that the Biden administration fears the effect of such a scenario on relations between Israel and the United States.

What they say:

• US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the Biden administration does not interfere in Israel's internal politics.

• Netanyahu's office refused to comment on the matter.

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• Benjamin Netanyahu

• Itamar Ben Gvir

• United States