Washington – President Donald Trump is congratulating Benjamin Netanyahu as he appears to be headed for a fifth term as prime minister of Israel.
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Speaking with reporters in Washington on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that it might be a bit premature to declare Netanyahu’s victory, but said he’s hearing that he’s won.
“I think we have a better chance now that Bibi has won.”, Trump said.
Unofficial election results seem to give a solid majority in parliament to Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and other nationalist and religious parties. The outcome would affirm Israel’s continued shift to the right and further dim hopes of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Palestinians have severed ties with the Trump administration.
Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on a Mideast peace plan. Few if any details have emerged, but Trump says there will be “some pretty good action” on the plan soon.
Netanyahu highlighted his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who delighted Israelis and angered Palestinians by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and moving the U.S. Embassy to the holy city last May.
Two weeks before the election, Trump signed a proclamation, with Netanyahu at his side at the White House, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war.
Trump is expected to release his administration’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan after the election. If it includes Israeli concessions to the Palestinians, Netanyahu’s probable far-right coalition allies will likely object.
2 of the greatest leaders America and Israel have ever had. Mazel Tov
We’ll see.
Mazel tov?! Anything BUT peace! Bibi only wants strife. Medinah hatmeiah!