Trump Allies Say Government With Ben-Gvir Is Unacceptable

Sources close to U.S. President Donald Trump have indicated that he wants to prevent Itamar Ben-Gvir and possibly Bezalel Smotrich from joining Israel's future government. Trump is closely monitoring the vote count and the political situation through his representatives, as neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the "change bloc" appears to have a clear majority to form a government. Trump's circle reportedly finds a coalition including the leader of Otzma Yehudit unacceptable and intends to ensure Netanyahu does not include Ben-Gvir, and possibly Smotrich, in his government. This stance is seen in the context of Trump's recent statements, where he claimed credit for Netanyahu's successes, suggesting that his electoral support comes with conditions. Trump may also push for a unity government, potentially with a rotation of the prime minister position. This could be linked to a deal where the first two years of Trump's second term would focus on Iran, aiming to overthrow its regime, while Netanyahu might step down in the final year, possibly as part of a plea deal. The advancement of the Abraham Accords, which Trump considers his legacy, is also a factor. However, Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, have reportedly told Trump they will not normalize relations with Israel while Netanyahu is prime minister, complicating these plans. Trump previously publicly urged Israelis to support Netanyahu twice before the election, calling him a "great wartime prime minister" and a "great partner" in combating Iran. He warned that if Israel did not have the "right leader," meaning anyone but Netanyahu, America would have to act alone against Iran, which he wished to avoid.