Trump advisers plan for Israeli opposition ahead of vote, split over backing Netanyahu
US officials told Axios that some of the president's advisers opposed his endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of Israel's October 27 election.
By Enzo Conti ·
Advisers to President Donald Trump are preparing to work with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political rivals should the incumbent lose Israel's October 27 vote, according to US officials who spoke with Axios. The same report said many of the president's closest advisers opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu and believed he should stay out of Israeli campaign politics entirely. One Trump adviser described the dynamic in blunt terms: "[Netanyahu] is the devil [Trump] knows."
The planning reflects shifting arithmetic in the race. A Maariv poll published this week showed the opposition bloc at 54 seats and Netanyahu's bloc at 48. In a head-to-head match for prime minister, Eisenkot led Netanyahu 49% to 41%. The same survey found that 60% of respondents would prefer a unity government if no bloc wins a clear governing majority, while 23% wanted a new election and 17% were undecided. Among those favoring a unity government, 33% wanted an opposition figure to lead it, 19% named Netanyahu, and 8% had no preference on leadership.
Vice President JD Vance declined to take a side when asked about the race this week. "I'm not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I'm not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu. I think the president's endorsement is ultimately what matters," Vance told reporters.
Disagreement over Israel policy runs through the administration. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack criticized the Netanyahu government's approach to Syria and its military operations there, calling an Israeli strike on a base in Idlib province an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability." Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team have kept closer ties with Netanyahu but believe Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon's government. They have also expressed frustration over what they see as Netanyahu's failure to curb settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
In the Maariv poll, 8% of those who wanted a unity government said they would support one regardless of who leads it.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
