Trump applauds Netanyahu's apparent PM victory

President Donald Trump is congratulating Benjamin Netanyahu as he appears to be headed for a fifth term as prime minister of Israel.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to his supporters after polls for Israel's general elections closed in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 10, 2019.[Photo: AP]

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.

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.