Trump pushes to keep two ministers out of Israel’s next government

US President Donald Trump is closely watching developments in Israel’s elections, amid indications that he wants to influence the makeup of the country’s next government.

Neither of Israel’s two political blocs has a clear majority, leaving the composition of a governing coalition uncertain.

Trump’s apparent push centres on preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from including far-right leaders in the next administration. Two ministers are the focus of the reported effort to secure their exclusion.

The indications of US pressure come as the electoral picture remains unresolved, with Netanyahu’s potential coalition partners a key issue in determining the shape of the next government.