Trump’s Endorsement Creates Political Risks for Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Election
Trump endorsed Netanyahu publicly on Sunday for the second time in a week, urging Israelis to return the prime minister to office and connecting his leadership to Washington’s campaign against Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump renewed his support for Netanyahu, whom he had called a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" a week earlier while describing him as an important partner in confronting Tehran.
The endorsement came as opinion polls indicated that the Likud-led political bloc could face difficulties securing the 61 seats required for a majority in Israel’s 120-member Knesset.
Israeli analyst Ahron Bregman said Trump’s intervention was unlikely to substantially affect voters’ decisions.
"Trump's pledge will have little impact on the Israeli voters; it was more of a desperate attempt by Netanyahu, who begged Trump to give him an endorsement, to get some support from his friend, at a time when in Israel the opposition parties seem, at least according to recent polls, to do quite well."
A report published Sunday, citing American and Israeli sources, said Netanyahu had personally sought further public support from Trump the previous week and had reportedly suggested wording for the endorsement.
Netanyahu’s Likud party rejected the report. However, Trump had told Newsmax earlier this month that people in Israel had asked him to intervene in support of the prime minister.
Bregman, a senior teaching fellow at King’s College London, cautioned that Trump’s backing could also harm Netanyahu by provoking voters opposed to foreign interference in Israeli politics.
"Trump's endorsement might even cause damage to Netanyahu, as many Israeli voters, including from Likud, hate this external intervention in domestic Israeli politics," he said.
Israeli voters are due to elect all 120 members of the Knesset on Tuesday in a closely watched contest that will shape the country’s political future amid the war in Gaza and the conflict with Iran.
Netanyahu’s bloc faces competition from opposition parties, including a faction led by Gadi Eisenkot, as political groups seek the parliamentary support needed to form the next government.
A recent Channel 12 poll indicated that Trump’s endorsement had done little to improve Netanyahu’s electoral prospects. Around 64% of respondents said the endorsement would not affect their vote, while 17% said it made them less likely to support the prime minister.
Only 12% said Trump’s backing increased their support for Netanyahu’s Likud party.
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