Trump urges Israeli unity pact as Netanyahu posts 72 times on Palestinian vote

US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli leaders to form a broad unity government following Tuesday's elections, according to US sources told the right-wing Israel Hayom newspaper. The president wants a coalition that includes both Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, the two largest parties based on current results. Trump believes a wide governing coalition is necessary to advance his Middle East policies, which include political agreements with regional states and a solution to the Palestinian issue.

A source with knowledge of the US president's plans said he will wait for final results before discussing government formation with Israeli leaders. However, the source indicated Trump is signaling his desired direction now. The source warned that if Israeli leaders do not act quickly to use the current strategic window, the window will close in two years when Trump leaves office. At that point, the source said, Israel's struggle for existence would become significantly harder.

The US administration also reportedly wants far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir excluded from any future government. Kan 11, Israel's public broadcaster, reported that Washington views Ben Gvir as an obstacle to advancing its policies in the occupied Gaza Strip. This preference adds another layer to the complex coalition building process currently underway in Jerusalem.

Eisenkot is positioned to take the lead in forming the new government. Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to task Eisenkot with the first attempt, according to Channel 13 News. Herzog typically assigns this duty to the leader who receives the most recommendations from other parties. Eisenkot's bloc currently holds 48 Knesset seats. The Palestinian-led parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, hold 19 seats. Together, they command a majority of 67 seats in parliament.

The election results showed record turnout among Palestinian voters. However, Netanyahu used his social media platforms to challenge the legitimacy of that vote. Haaretz investigated the prime minister's activity and found he published 72 posts attacking Palestinian turnout out of 146 total posts during the 15-hour voting window. Nearly half of his communication focused on delegitimizing the results. His eldest son, Yair, shared 103 similar posts on X, while Channel 14 News, often viewed as a Likud ally, posted 40 such messages.

A wider campaign extended beyond official channels. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, roughly 2,300 messages targeting Palestinian voters were distributed across 90 right-wing social media accounts. Phone calls and text messages also mobilized Likud supporters. This coordinated effort aimed to set the stage for disputing the election outcome before final counts were certified.

Cultural figures in Israel are pushing for a different political direction. Approximately 400 artists, actors, writers, and poets signed a letter urging the opposition Change bloc to include Palestinian-led parties in a new coalition. The letter, addressed to leaders including Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, called for a unified front. The signatories argued that Palestinian voters are an integral part of the state's citizens and should participate in leadership.

The artists described the situation as a real danger to democracy. They asked the opposition to set aside prejudice and incitement to create a more equal and shared reality. Both Yousef Jabareen of the Joint List and Mansour Abbas of Ra'am have said they will support a move to replace Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana. Replacing Ohana, a Likud member, would require their support and would allow the opposition to control the Knesset agenda while parties negotiate the next government.