October 19, 2026
The public support shown by US President Donald Trump for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cast a shadow over the electoral scene in Israel, whose parliamentary round is scheduled to begin on October 27. Driven by rapid reactions from the opposition forces, led by the main competitor, Gadi Eisenkot.
In a press conference held on Sunday in Tel Aviv, Eisenkot affirmed his respect for the US President, commenting on the latter’s announcement of his “full and unconditional support” for Netanyahu in his re-election efforts, adding: “Israel is a democratic state, and only the Israelis have the right to choose their leaders.”
Trump had posted on the “Truth Social” platform an explicit message of support for Netanyahu, saying: “Let this message serve as a testament to my complete and unconditional support for Bibi Netanyahu in the race toward his re-election as Prime Minister of Israel.”
The US President linked the results of the Israeli elections to the Iranian file, warning by saying: “If someone other than Netanyahu takes over the leadership of Israel, America will be forced to complete the mission against Iran on its own, which is what I do not want.” He added that Tehran was systematically subjected to devastating military and financial strikes, stressing that “if Iran does not change its approach quickly, we will complete the mission against it soon.”
These developments come nine days before the expected parliamentary elections, amid heated tensions between the Likud Party, led by Netanyahu, and the opposition forces led by the centrist Yashar Party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot.
