US President Donald Trump reportedly delayed his public endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu until internal polling showed the Israeli Prime Minister had a realistic chance of winning.
Key facts
- •Netanyahu is aiming to secure 61 Knesset seats for his bloc in the October 27 elections.
- •Trump monitored internal polling data showing the right-wing bloc in Israel was gaining strength before issuing his endorsement.
- •Netanyahu stated that Israel does not require American approval for its military actions against Iran.
- •Netanyahu expressed that he does not expect a return to positive relations with Turkey as long as Erdogan remains in power.
- •Criticism in the US regarding Israel's campaign against Iran may have influenced Trump to maintain some public distance from Netanyahu until after US midterm elections.
US President Donald Trump held off on publicly endorsing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's upcoming elections until internal polling data indicated Netanyahu had a realistic chance of winning. Political sources familiar with the contacts stated that Trump wanted to avoid backing a candidate who might lose, citing his experience in Hungary's elections where he supported Viktor Orban, who was defeated.
Netanyahu's Security and Diplomatic Vision
In a briefing held nine days before the elections, Netanyahu outlined his security and diplomatic goals, emphasizing that Israel does not condition its actions against Iran on American approval. He stated that while he coordinates with the US, Israel is prepared to act independently to eliminate nuclear and other threats from Iran. Netanyahu also noted that he aims to expand Israel's alliance network with additional countries to prepare for potential future shifts in US leadership.
Relations with Turkey and the US
Netanyahu acknowledged disagreements with Trump regarding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He stated that Israel has thwarted Turkish attempts to expand military deployments in Syria and is preparing for various scenarios, though he hopes to avoid direct confrontation with Ankara. Despite these differences and reports of cooling relations, Netanyahu maintained that his cooperation with Trump remains deep.
Coordination of the Endorsement
Likud officials stated that Trump's endorsement was not a surprise and was coordinated to maximize media impact. While some officials argued that the timing was a strategic choice to create a major news event, sources familiar with the contacts indicated that Trump's decision was specifically driven by recent polling data showing the right-wing bloc gaining strength and potentially moving ahead.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Jerusalem Post.
