Trump wants Ben-Gvir, Smotrich out of Israel's next government, US sources tell 'Post'

US President Donald Trump wants Israel's next government to exclude far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, American sources told Walla on Wednesday. Trump believes settler violence is undermining his regional vision. The report comes as Israel's election results show a deadlock, with neither bloc reaching 61 seats.

US President Donald Trump wants Israel's next government to exclude far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, American sources told Walla on Wednesday. According to the sources, Trump believes settler violence is undermining his regional vision and complicating efforts to implement it. Trump's associates have been briefed on the election results, though the president himself has yet to comment. The report comes as Israel's election results show a political deadlock, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc projected to enter the Knesset with 54 seats and the opposition bloc with 49 seats, neither reaching the 61-seat majority needed. Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit and Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party are projected to win approximately 13 seats combined, making them potentially important partners in any future Netanyahu-led coalition. Separately, Trump addressed the war with Iran, saying it could end very quickly but must include an absolute declaration that Iran will never have nuclear weapons. The election projections remain preliminary, pending the official vote count.