![Head of Israel's Jewish Zionism list Bezalel Smotrich [GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1232806862-scaled-e1644680070219.jpg?fit=920%2C614&ssl=1)
Israeli Member of Knesset Bezalel Smotrich, who heads the Religious Zionist Party, has cancelled a scheduled trip to New York so as to complete negotiations to form a government coalition, Maariv reported.
Smotrich invited Likud to more talks between all stakeholders in order to finalise the negotiations and form a government as soon as possible.
The Religious Zionist Party leader has said he is seeking the defence portfolio, while Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu wants a member of his Likud Party to head that ministry.
Likud sources recently reported that Netanyahu had offered Smotrich the foreign ministry post, but the latter refused it.
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