A senior American official expressed concerns recently over the possibility that ultranationalist Itamar Ben Gvir would be appointed minister in the next government if opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu gets 61 mandates.
Ben Gvir, who heads the far-right Jewish Power party, had joined forces in August with Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich. The two parties will run on one ticket at the Nov. 1 elections. Both men are taking off in the public opinion surveys. Ben Gvir in particular enjoys growing popularity among young and ultra-Orthodox voters.
