President Trump congratulated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for his 70th birthday, calling him "one of my closes allies. "
The 45th president sent a letter in which he praised the leaders' strong bond.
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"There has never been a more productive time in the Israeli-American partnership, and I know there are many more victories to come," Trump wrote in the letter. "Thank you for your strong leadership and loyal friendship. You are one [of] my closest allies, and I look forward to the continued success we will have working together," Trump added. For emphasis, he made a gesture aimed at conveying a more personal tone, writing with a Sharpie: "You are great!"
The letter, which was published by the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday, comes at a sensitive period for Netanyahu. On Monday he announced he would not be able to form a government by Wednesday's deadline.
President Reuven Rivlin was expected late on Wednesday to give Netanyahu's chief rival, Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz, a shot forming a government for a period of 28 days. If Gantz fails as well, the Knesset will have 21 days to nominate an MK with 61 signatures and then appoint him or her as prime minister, but the most likelier outcome is that another general election will be called.
תודה לך ידידי הנשיא טראמפ על הברכות החמות ליום הולדתי. הברית והידידות בינינו חזקים מאי פעם!
Thank you to my friend President Trump for your warm words on my birthday. Our alliance and friendship have never been stronger. pic.twitter.com/HnBdd0pgC1
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 22, 2019
The only realistic path to avert an election is through a national unity government, but Likud and Blue and White have so far been unable to finalize a power-sharing mechanism. This is mainly because Blue and White have insisted that Netanyahu step down for at least two years so that he could deal with his looming indictments in three corruption cases.
Netanyahu thanked Trump for the letter on Twitter. "Thank you to my friend President Trump for your warm words on my birthday. Our alliance and friendship have never been stronger," he wrote.
