Trump backs Netanyahu as US planning raises questions over Iran attack with Israel
Trump endorses Netanyahu’s campaign
US President Donald Trump announced his official support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s election campaign after previously declining to endorse anyone. Trump said the United States might have to take on the work itself if Israel had a different leader.
He also praised Netanyahu’s response to pressure. In earlier comments to TIME, Trump had avoided saying whether Netanyahu deserved another term and said he trusted nobody. Israel’s election is scheduled for October 27. Haaretz’s tracker on Sunday projected 52 seats for the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, compared with 51 for the Likud-led coalition in the 120-seat Knesset.
Political impact remains uncertain
Analyst Sanam Vakil said the endorsement could help Netanyahu present himself as essential to Israel’s ties with Washington. Andreas Krieg, a King’s College London security studies lecturer, described the support as a political gift while noting that Netanyahu’s campaign faces significant difficulties.
Krieg pointed to fragmented right-wing parties, disillusioned ultra-Orthodox voters and the legacy of October 7. He said Trump could bring some hesitant Likud voters back, perhaps enough to affect one or two seats, but could not create the coalition majority Netanyahu currently lacks.
Iran tensions shape the endorsement
The Strait of Hormuz was effectively shut by Iran after the war began, followed by a US naval blockade of Iranian vessels. Tanker traffic had returned to pre-war levels last month as the US Navy escorted more ships, but Iranian attacks early this month again disrupted crude exports. Brent crude stood at $107.57 a barrel on Monday, after briefly reaching $110 on Friday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Tehran’s proposal remained available: if Washington accepted its conditions, the strait could reopen within six days, with talks resuming the next day. Krieg said Trump’s approach emphasized pressure but did not rule out diplomacy; he assessed the likelihood of a US-Israeli attack as low unless an Iranian strike forced a response. Vakil said the endorsement could make it harder for Trump to distance the US from the war.
Key points
- Trump officially endorsed Netanyahu after previously avoiding an election endorsement.
- Haaretz’s tracker projected 52 seats for the opposition alliance and 51 for Netanyahu’s coalition.
- US media reports say the Pentagon has prepared plans for renewed Iran attacks before the midterms.
- Krieg assessed the chance of a US-Israeli attack as low if Iran does not strike first.