Israeli Politicsupdated 40m ago2 min read
Donald Trump Gives Complete And Total Endorsement To Benjamin Netanyahu For Israel’s October 27 Vote
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Trump issued a full, complete, unconditional endorsement of Netanyahu for reelection. Endorsement came nine days before Israel's October 27 parliamentary election.
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Trump backs Netanyahu
President Donald Trump endorsed Israel’s incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection in Israeli legislative elections scheduled for October 27, writing on Truth Social that he was giving his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Netanyahu. Trump linked his backing to Netanyahu being an ally of the US in its war on Iran, and Trump warned that “If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so,”. Netanyahu rushed to thank Trump for his “huge support and working together,” saying “Together we will get the job done,” while Netanyahu also expressed doubts about winning a new term.
“He added that he was giving his ‘Complete and Total Endorsement’ to Netanyahu.”
Trump’s endorsement arrived nine days before the vote, after Trump had refused to endorse Netanyahu earlier this month when asked repeatedly about Netanyahu’s job performance in an interview with Time magazine. The election is framed as pivotal for Netanyahu’s future because Netanyahu is facing a close race and is on trial for corruption charges including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which could require prison if convicted.
Netanyahu doubts, rivals clash
Netanyahu told the 104.5 FM station of the Ma’ariv newspaper that he was “very worried” and not confident of victory, while Netanyahu said he does not intend to retire from political life if he loses.
Netanyahu described the electoral battle as existential and warned that an Opposition coming to power could lead to concessions on the Iranian nuclear issue and the establishment of a Palestinian state, which he called a “disaster.”
Yanon Magil, the host of the program “The Nationals” on Channel 14, sparked a racism row by saying, “Eisenkot is a monkey, a monkey. Behind him all the Ashkenazi elites pull his strings.”
Eisenkot responded at a press conference, saying, “This is a ridiculous statement, that I am a Moroccan monkey,” and Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of “keeping Mizrahim (Jews of Oriental origin) in his party out of the public eye.”
What is at stake
Trump tied Netanyahu’s reelection to continued U.S.-Israeli cooperation against Iran, and Trump warned that if Netanyahu does not win, “we will have to undertake the mission against Iran ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so.” Trump also asserted that Iran had undergone a “systematic military and financial destruction,” and Trump warned that unless Iran changes its behavior quickly, “we will end the mission soon.” The election’s outcome is also tied to coalition math, because forming a government requires the confidence of at least 61 of the 120 members of the Knesset, and both the opposition and Netanyahu’s bloc reject forming a government with Arab parties.
Axios reported that most polls show Netanyahu’s coalition falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government, and Axios said Trump’s endorsement could give Netanyahu a boost at a critical moment. Netanyahu’s Likud Party attached a 35-second video showing clips of the two leaders together and Trump praising Netanyahu, while Netanyahu said on X, “Together we will complete the mission!”