Trump stops short of endorsing Bibi as his campaign falters
When Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump met in the Oval Office two weeks ago, the president asked the Israeli prime minister how he was doing in the polls ahead of an Oct. 27 election. Netanyahu paused. Then one of his advisers piped up: "Mr. President, he is winning," the aide said, according to a U.S. official familiar with the exchange. Why it matters: Netanyahu is not winning. And so far,…
In a recent Oval Office meeting, President Donald Trump questioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his poll position ahead of the Oct. 27 election. However, Netanyahu's aides indicated the prime minister was winning, contradicting recent survey data. Despite repeated inquiries from reporters, Trump has yet to publicly endorse Netanyahu, expressing frustration over the prime minister's policies and decisions.
The two leaders' relationship has deteriorated as their foreign policy goals and domestic political interests have diverged. Netanyahu's coalition currently holds 49-53 seats, while his opponents hold 67-70 seats, making it difficult for him to form a government without Arab-Israeli parties' support. If no government is formed, Netanyahu will become a caretaker prime minister for several months.
The strain in their relations intensified after Netanyahu rejected Trump's Gaza Board of Peace plan for disarming Hamas. Despite Netanyahu's pledges to adhere to the plan and curb attacks on Gaza, tensions remain. Trump's popularity in Israel has declined over the Iran deal and his decision to back away from the war, while Israelis have criticized his restrictions on military operations.
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