Ynet
Ynet sources close to US President Donald Trump said the president wants to “make sure” Netanyahu excludes Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir from his next government, with Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich also likely to be targeted for exclusion.
Sources close to Trump say the president considers a government that includes Ben-Gvir out of the question. This also explains why Trump claimed credit Wednesday morning for Netanyahu’s electoral gains as official results began emerging during the vote count. In doing so, Trump effectively reminded Netanyahu of the terms of their agreement and made clear that he would not back down from his demands.
As election results continue to come in, neither of Israel’s two main political blocs appears to have secured a clear majority to form a government. The focus is now on whether Trump will deepen his involvement in Israeli politics after endorsing Netanyahu ahead of the election, potentially seeking to broker a national unity government that brings together rival political parties.
Under the understanding reached between Trump and Netanyahu, the two leaders would prioritize Iran during the first of Trump’s two remaining years in office, aiming to bring a ‘definitive end’ to the US-Isreali war on Tehran. In Trump’s second and final year, Netanyahu could be required to step down, potentially through a plea bargain or another arrangement, while efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, which Trump considers a cornerstone of his legacy, advance.
Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have already told the US president they will not pursue normalization with Israel while Netanyahu remains prime minister. Trump may therefore seek to establish a unity government with a rotating premiership to help advance the expansion of the Abraham Accords.
