Trump weighs in on Netanyahu’s efforts to form new Israeli government: ‘A lot more to do!’
President Trump weighed in on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s last-ditch attempts to form a coalition, just days before the government is set to dissolve if he fails.
Trump, in a post on Twitter Monday during his visit in Japan, said he hopes the country will be able to form a coalition and threw his support behind Netanyahu, referring to him by his nickname “Bibi.”
{mosads}“Hoping things will work out with Israel’s coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever,” Trump wrote Monday. “A lot more to do!”
Hoping things will work out with Israel’s coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever. A lot more to do!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2019
Netanyahu last month was reelected to a fifth term as prime minister but has struggled to form a government while facing potential corruption indictments, as well as disagreements among the right-wing parties his coalition would depend on.
Reuters reports the Israeli parliament decided to dissolve itself in a preliminary vote but are likely to hold a final vote on the matter Wednesday.
If Netanyahu is unable to form a new government by the deadline, Israel would have a second national election in the same year, an unprecedented occurrence, Reuters notes.
Trump and Netanyahu have enjoyed a strong political relationship since Trump took the White House. Trump congratulated Netanyahu on his recent election victory and said it raises the prospects of achieving peace in the Middle East.
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