Trump voiced support for Netanyahu to continue ‘alliance’ amid the Israeli political crisis

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trump netanyahuDrew Angerer/Getty Images

  • President Donald Trump offered public support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the country’s political chaos.
  • Trump tweeted in support of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a coalition 48 hours before the deadline for putting together a new government.
  • The tweet was an unprecedented intervention in another country’s coalition negotiations while Netanyahu faces a significant challenge.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump offered unprecedented public support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid tense chaos ahead of a possible snap election in the country.

Trump said in a Monday afternoon tweet that he hopes "things will work out with Israel’s coalition formation," the struggle over which has kept the country in a tense period of political instability.

"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 posted on Twitter during his state visit to Japan, using the veteran leader’s nickname. "A lot more to do!"

Trump’s comment was notable because it was a public show of support amid in coalition negotiations for a contender for power and in a foreign country’s politics.

Netanyahu, a controversial figure to back as he’s currently facing indictments for bribes, breach of trust, and fraud, thanked Trump for the tweet during a press conference shortly after, saying that "Trump is right – we still have a lot of work to do."

The prime minister was reelected to a fifth term last month, but is facing a fractured government. Reuters reported that the country’s parliament decided to dissolve itself in a preliminary vote but are likely to hold a final vote on the matter Wednesday.

If Netanyahu is cannot form a new government by the deadline, Israel would have a second national election in the same year, an unprecedented occurrence, Reuters reported.

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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Ellen Cranley)

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