Trump Wants Far-Right Duo Out of Next Israeli Cabinet

Donald Trump is pushing for the exclusion of Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from Israel's next government, according to American sources cited by the Israeli outlet Walla on Wednesday. The administration views the two far-right ministers as obstacles to its regional strategy, specifically citing settler violence as a factor that complicates the execution of that vision.

The reported stance emerged alongside preliminary election data that indicates a political stalemate. The Central Elections Committee announced on Wednesday morning that Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is projected to secure 54 seats in the Knesset. Within that bloc, Likud is expected to take 27 seats. United Torah Judaism, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit are each projected to win seven seats, while the Religious Zionist Party is expected to gain six.

The opposition camp, comprising Yashar, B'Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, and the Democrats, is projected to win 49 seats. Neither bloc reaches the 61 seats required for a governing majority. This leaves the formation of a government unresolved, with exit polls suggesting that Arab parties may hold the balance of power in coalition negotiations.

Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit and the alliance of Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party and Zehut are projected to win approximately 13 seats combined. Their potential inclusion would make them pivotal partners for any Netanyahu-led coalition. The figures are preliminary, and the final seat distribution depends on the official count.

Two parties missed the electoral threshold in the exit polls: the Reservists' Party and People of Israel. Ofer Winter, chairman of People of Israel, criticized Netanyahu for what his associates called a strategic mistake. Winter claimed the prime minister had drained his party's votes. Celebrations took place at Likud headquarters following the release of the results.

Trump has not yet commented publicly on the election results, though his associates have been briefed. On Wednesday, the US president addressed the war with Iran, stating that the conflict could end whenever he decides. He said the war would end quickly but must end correctly, requiring an unequivocal declaration that Iran will never possess nuclear weapons. Trump also labeled Iran the leading state sponsor of terrorism.

The next major step is the official counting of votes to confirm the seat distribution. The Knesset will then convene to determine which leader is tasked with forming a government.