Bill Ackman says Ben-Gvir and Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government
Two days before Israel's general election, US investor Bill Ackman said Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich had damaged Israel's reputation and should be left out of the next government. All three outlets run the same Reuters report.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2US billionaire investor Bill Ackman said on Sunday, 25 October, that Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich should not serve in Israel's next government, saying the two far-right politicians had caused enormous damage to the country's reputation. The Straits TimesRC “Bill Ackman on Sunday said that Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich should not serve in Israel's next government” Read at The Straits Times ↗ CNAN “saying the two far-right politicians had caused enormous damage to the country's reputation” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 2Ackman, a prominent Jewish hedge fund manager, made the statement two days before Israel's general election, in which polls show a tight race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition and the opposition. Arab NewsRC “who is Jewish” Read at Arab News ↗ The Straits TimesRC “comes just two days before Israel's general election, in which polls show a tight race” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Centre · 1Writing on X, Ackman said that from the perspective of someone who understood how Israel was perceived in the United States, the two had caused Israel "enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions." CNAN “Ackman wrote on X that from the perspective of someone who had an understanding of how Israel was perceived in the United States” Read at CNA ↗
Mixed · 2He said a government without them would signal that Israel was "turning a new page", which he argued would help Israel rebuild lost credibility, improve the chances of expanding the Abraham Accords and improve its relations with Democrats, Republicans and Americans generally. The Straits TimesRC “This will allow Israel to rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords” Read at The Straits Times ↗ CNAN “turning a new page” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 2Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are ministers in Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition and have overseen policies widely perceived as discriminatory against Israel's Arab minority and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank; Britain, Canada and Australia are among countries that have sanctioned them over accusations of inciting violence against Palestinians there. The Straits TimesRC “Several countries, including Britain, Canada and Australia, have imposed sanctions on the two ministers” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Arab NewsRC “widely perceived as discriminatory against Israel’s minority Arab population” Read at Arab News ↗ Centre · 1Representatives for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment. CNAN “Representatives for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.” Read at CNA ↗
Right · 1Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party is projected to win around 10 seats on Tuesday, up from 6, and Smotrich's Religious Zionism 8, up from 7. The Straits TimesRC “Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party is projected to win around 10 parliamentary seats at Tuesday's election, up from 6” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Ackman, who visited Israel last week and with his wife Neri Oxman owns 5% of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, backed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential run; Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu last week, and Ackman praised Netanyahu at a Tel Aviv conference on Thursday for protecting and defending Israel since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack. The Straits TimesRC “owns 5% of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, supported Donald Trump's candidacy for president in 2024” Read at The Straits Times ↗ CNAN “Speaking at a Tel Aviv conference on Thursday, Ackman praised Netanyahu” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Nimrod Goren, president of the think tank Mitvim, said the statement appeared to reflect a wish in Trump's circles for Netanyahu to drop his far-right allies after the vote and form a unity government with opposition parties, but opposition challenger Gadi Eisenkot and other opposition leaders have ruled out joining a government with Netanyahu. CNAN “Nimrod Goren, the president of Israeli think tank Mitvim, said Ackman's statement appeared to reflect a desire among Trump's circles”“have ruled out forming a government with Israel's longest-serving prime minister” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- CNA runs the same Reuters text, with a standfirst stressing Ackman's earlier praise of Netanyahu and his 'new page' message.
- Emphasis
- Ackman's quote and his Netanyahu praise.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No reaction from Ben-Gvir, Smotrich or Netanyahu.
- For example
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“who praised Netanyahu last week, said a government without the two ministers would send a message that Israel was "turning a new page."” — CNA
Right3 outlets
- Framing
- The Straits Times and Arab News carry the unaltered Reuters report, headlined around a 'Trump backer' calling for the two to be excluded.
- Emphasis
- Ackman's Trump ties, the sanctions on the ministers and their projected seat gains.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No reaction from the ministers or Netanyahu's camp.
- Charged language
- “far-right”
- For example
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“BOTH MINISTERS HAVE FACED SANCTIONS” — The Straits Times
“Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government” — Arab News
What every side reports
- Ackman said on 25 October that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich should not serve in the next Israeli government because of reputational damage.
- The election is two days away and polls show a tight race.
- Britain, Canada and Australia have sanctioned both ministers.
- Representatives for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich did not immediately respond.
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Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have caused Israel enormous reputational damage and should not serve in its next government.
Reported- Reports 3
- CNA, Arab News, The Straits Times
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Britain, Canada and Australia have sanctioned Ben-Gvir and Smotrich over accusations of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Reported- Reports 3
- CNA, Arab News, The Straits Times
Bill Ackman person
Says the two ministers have hurt Israel's standing in the US and that excluding them would help rebuild credibility and expand the Abraham Accords, while praising Netanyahu's defence of Israel.
“Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions.” — The Straits Times
Itamar Ben-Gvir person
No response reported; his party is projected to rise from 6 to about 10 seats.
“Representatives for Ben-Gvir and Smotrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.” — CNA
Bezalel Smotrich person
No response reported; his party is projected to rise from 7 to 8 seats.
“Smotrich's Religious Zionism is projected to win 8, up from 7.” — The Straits Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government
Neutral CNA's version of the same report, leading with Ackman's 'new page' message.
Right3 articles
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government
Neutral Reuters wire copy carried by the Straits Times; factual account with analyst context.
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Arab NewsRC · · via Reuters
Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government
Neutral Reuters wire copy carried by Arab News; identical content to the other two.
- 25 Oct 12:48 First The Jerusalem PostRC Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman calls for Ben-Gvir, Smotrich to be excluded from next government
- 25 Oct 15:35 +2h 47m The Straits TimesRC Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government via Reuters
- 25 Oct 20:03 +7h 15m Arab NewsRC Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government via Reuters
- 25 Oct 20:28 +7h 41m CNAN Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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