Will Trump’s endorsement boost Netanyahu’s chances of winning the election?

President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party in a Truth Social post on Sunday, calling him a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and a "partner for peace." In the post, Trump urged Israelis to vote for Netanyahu ahead of the upcoming election, suggesting that if Israel chooses any other leader, the United States would have to do the work itself. Netanyahu's campaign responded by releasing a video clip showcasing Trump's past praise for the leader.

The impact of the endorsement is a subject of debate among experts and observers. The Jerusalem Post reports that while the endorsement is a powerful statement, some experts suggest it may not change voter behavior because Netanyahu's supporters already believe in his leadership and his opponents are aware of his history with Trump. ABC News AU noted that this endorsement comes only months after Trump had used expletives to describe Netanyahu and suggested he did not trust him.

The Times of Israel suggests the remarks might help shift focus away from other campaign issues rather than swaying supporters or opponents. Haaretz described the Sunday post as the beginning of a campaign for Netanyahu that is expected to peak next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post notes that some pundits have criticized Trump for interfering in the Israeli election.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Times of Israel, Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, Japan Today, ABC News AU — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.