Axios: Trump Administration Holds Unannounced Contacts with Israeli Opposition - Sarmad
Axios reported that the U.S. administration is holding undisclosed communications with the Israeli opposition amid declining popularity for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aiming to prevent jeopardizing its Middle East initiatives.
The outlet noted that several Israeli opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid, expressed concerns about the possibility of Trump intervening on Netanyahu’s behalf in the upcoming Israeli elections on October 27. They conveyed “unofficial signals” to the U.S. president and his aides through mutual friends, donors, and political allies, urging him to maintain neutrality.
According to Axios, Trump asked Netanyahu during a recent meeting in the Oval Office about poll results regarding his chances in the elections. The Israeli prime minister hesitated to answer before one of his advisors quickly interjected that he was “ahead and would win.”
However, the site pointed out that Netanyahu is actually trailing in the polls, and Trump continues to refuse to publicly endorse his candidacy, despite media pressure.
Washington fears, according to Axios, a repeat of the political paralysis Israel experienced in 2019, and is seeking to ensure progress on major regional deals regardless of the outcome of the October 27 vote.
Axios sources say Trump’s true stance toward Netanyahu is far more tepid than his public statements suggest. Despite his personal sympathy for the Israeli prime minister, Trump is increasingly frustrated with his policies and decisions on foreign affairs, particularly regarding Iran, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip.
Although Trump has repeatedly praised Netanyahu, describing him as an “excellent prime minister in wartime,” he has declined on several occasions to explicitly endorse him when asked about his position on the upcoming elections.
The outlet quoted two individuals who recently spoke with Trump about Netanyahu as saying that “Bibi is his own worst enemy,” referring to the Israeli prime minister.
Beni Presskin, a former advisor to the Israeli prime minister, believes Trump may distance himself from Netanyahu due to his controversial reputation ahead of the U.S. congressional elections scheduled for November 3.
In contrast, Netanyahu is betting on preventing his rivals from forming an alternative governing coalition, which could keep him at the head of a caretaker government for an additional period if a new government cannot be formed after the upcoming elections.
These developments come as polls show Netanyahu’s coalition winning only between 49 and 53 seats in the Knesset, falling short of the majority required to form a new government, while opposition parties are projected to win between 67 and 70 seats, with former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot leading Netanyahu in several polling indicators.
