Zell on Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu: Political deadlock, repeated elections signal weakness

US President Donald Trump has offered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu his "complete and total endorsement" ahead of Israel's upcoming October 27 parliamentary election. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Netanyahu as a "great warrior prime minister" and a peace partner, crediting him for joining the US in launching strikes on Iran in February. Trump thanked Netanyahu for his strength, bravery, and brilliance in the face of opposition, both in Israel and elsewhere.

Netanyahu reciprocated the endorsement on X, stating, "Together we will complete the mission!" However, the endorsement may not yield a decisive advantage for Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party. Disagreements over the war against Iran are straining relations, and public support for Trump in Israel is waning. Israeli voters will cast their ballots on October 27, and opinion polls indicate no clear winner.

The prime minister's position is determined through coalition-building in parliament rather than a direct popular vote.

Senior research fellow Tamar Hermann of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem suggested that Trump's late endorsement might help win back some wavering Netanyahu supporters but is unlikely to attract broad support. The election comes after the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and widened the regional conflict involving Lebanon and Iran.

The vote could determine Netanyahu's future as prime minister after a turbulent period in Israeli history or lead to his replacement by centrist rivals promising a political shift. Trump's backing also comes amid the Iran war's domestic political risks for the US president. The ongoing conflict has disrupted global energy markets, damaged critical infrastructure, and destabilized regional economies.

The war is unpopular among Americans ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, and support for Israel in the United States has declined due to the conflict with Iran and Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza.

Both Trump and Netanyahu emphasized completing the mission in Iran, and Trump has departed from US practice by endorsing candidates in several foreign elections, including Hungary, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, and Honduras.