Trump pressures Netanyahu to exclude Ben-Gvir and paves way for unity government

US President Donald Trump is closely monitoring the results of Israel’s elections and their political implications through his aides, as neither of the two political blocs appears to have a clear majority to form the next government.

Sources close to Trump said the US president wants to oversee the formation of Israel’s next government and prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from including Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party, and possibly Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, in the governing coalition.

According to the sources, Trump is personally following developments in Israel’s electoral landscape through various channels, indicating his administration’s interest in the composition and political direction of the next government.

Sources close to Trump said a government involving Ben-Gvir was not an option for the US president. Trump therefore praised Netanyahu’s electoral achievements this Wednesday morning, after updated results based on the vote count began to emerge. In doing so, Trump is making clear to Netanyahu the price of the deal he is unwilling to compromise on.

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With the updated results suggesting that neither camp has a clear majority to form a government, the question is whether Trump will increase his intervention in the Israeli election, after expressing support for Netanyahu before the vote, and seek to establish a unity government.

Under an agreement between Trump and Netanyahu, the two are expected to negotiate with Iran during the first year of Trump’s remaining two-year term, in an attempt to bring the war that began on 28 February this year to a complete and decisive end.

In the second and final year of Trump’s term, Netanyahu may be forced to step down, possibly under a plea deal or as part of another arrangement. At the same time, efforts would be made to advance the Abraham Accords, which Trump sees as part of his legacy.

However, there is a gap between the accounts presented by Netanyahu and Trump and the reality on the ground. Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have already made clear to the US president that they will not accept normalisation with Israel as long as Netanyahu remains prime minister.

Trump may therefore seek to establish a rotating unity government to broaden the scope of the Abraham Accords.

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