Trump Presses for Exclusion of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from Israel's Next Cabinet

US President Donald Trump intends to keep Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich out of Israel's next government, according to American sources speaking to the Israeli outlet Walla. The officials stated that the president believes ongoing settler violence is complicating his regional vision and making implementation more difficult.

Preliminary data from the Central Elections Committee reveals a political stalemate following the vote. After counting more than four million ballots on Wednesday morning, the committee projected that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc would secure 54 seats in the Knesset. Likud is expected to win 27 of those seats. United Torah Judaism, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit are each projected to take seven seats, while the Religious Zionist Party is expected to win six.

The opposition bloc, comprising Yashar, B'Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, and the Democrats, is projected to claim 49 seats. Neither side has reached the 61 seats required for a governing majority, leaving the question of coalition formation unresolved. Exit polls indicated that Arab parties could determine whether a stable coalition is possible.

Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit and the alliance between Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party and Zehut are projected to win approximately 13 seats combined. This total could make them decisive partners in any future coalition led by Netanyahu. The figures remain preliminary, and the final seat distribution depends on the official count.

Two parties failed to cross the electoral threshold in the exit polls: the Reservists' Party and People of Israel. Ofer Winter, chairman of Amcha Yisrael, which also missed the threshold, criticized Netanyahu. Sources close to Winter claimed the prime minister had "drained our votes" and labeled the outcome a "strategic mistake." Celebrations were reported at Likud headquarters after the results were released.

Trump has not yet commented publicly on the election results, though his associates have been briefed. On Wednesday, the president addressed the war with Iran, stating it could end whenever he decides. He said the conflict will end quickly but emphasized the need for a proper conclusion.

The president said ending the war requires an "absolute and unequivocal declaration" that Iran will never possess nuclear weapons. He described Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism in the world.