ADL says including far right in next government will hurt country globally

The Anti-Defamation League expresses concern “over likely inclusion of extremists” in the next Israeli government.

The ADL offers congratulations to Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu but notes that the coalition “will likely include representatives from the Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionist parties, including their leaders Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich,” both of which “have a long history of engaging in racist, anti-Arab, homophobic and other hateful behavior.”

“We believe that including these far-right individuals and parties in an Israeli government would run counter to Israel’s founding principles, and impact its standing, even among its strongest supporters.”

The ADL says it “will not shirk from calling out expressions by, and policies of, the Israeli government and Israeli leaders that are hateful, racist, anti-Arab, homophobic and anti-democratic.”