US President Donald Trump has not endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 election, despite their long history and Trump's previous support for right-wing Israeli policies. The election poses a challenge for Netanyahu's Likud party, facing opposition from Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot. Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel programme at the Arab Center Washington DC, noted Trump's apparent distance from the election, which may be influenced by changing political dynamics in both the US and Israel.
In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump avoided directly endorsing Netanyahu while defending his leadership prior to the October 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Trump's past actions, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, have significantly impacted US-Israel relations.
Despite their close ties, hints of discord over Netanyahu's handling of peace negotiations and the Iran conflict have not led to policy changes. Michael Omer-Man from the DAWN think tank suggested that while Trump has not abandoned Netanyahu, he is cautious given the unpredictable nature of elections.
Eisenkot has proposed a more moderate approach, particularly regarding settler violence in the West Bank, but this is unlikely to affect US relations significantly. Mairav Zonszein from the International Crisis Group pointed out that Trump's hesitance reflects internal divisions within the Trump administration and the Republican Party regarding Netanyahu's policies.
Public opinion polls indicate a decline in support for Netanyahu among Republicans, while Trump's perceived influence in Israel has also diminished. Netanyahu has shifted his campaign strategy, focusing on his adversaries rather than his relationship with Trump, which marks a change from previous elections.