Netanyahu's Likud Party Uses Trump's Endorsement in Election Campaign

The Likud party has intensified its use of public endorsements from U.S. President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in its election campaign. The party released a recording of a conversation between Netanyahu and Trump, during which Trump asserted he personally drafted his endorsement message for Netanyahu. Netanyahu, in turn, highlighted his partnership with the U.S. president ahead of the October 27th Knesset elections.

The Likud campaign circulated a recording of a Sunday conversation between the two leaders, filmed in the same location as a previous campaign video featuring Netanyahu against a fighter jet backdrop at an Israeli Air Force base. The campaign aims to leverage the leaders' relationship to mobilize voters. During the call, Netanyahu told Trump, "We have work to finish, and no one else will do it. We can expand the Abraham Accords," referring to normalization agreements with Arab nations, and also mentioned confronting Iran.

Trump confirmed he wrote the endorsement himself, stating, "I drafted the message myself. You have been treated unfairly in your country. We will soon prove you are a great fighter." This conversation followed Trump's Sunday declaration of "full and absolute" support for Netanyahu's re-election, warning Israelis against choosing another prime minister and linking continued U.S.-Israeli cooperation against Iran to Netanyahu remaining in office.

Trump described Netanyahu as a "great warrior prime minister, and an even greater partner for peace," calling the election of anyone else a "wrong choice" that could force the U.S. to confront Iran alone. Netanyahu welcomed the U.S. endorsement on X, thanking Trump for his "tremendous support and joint work" and calling their partnership "a tremendous asset for Israel." He also questioned the ability of opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to manage relations with the U.S. administration, citing a lack of experience.

Opposition leaders criticized Trump's intervention, emphasizing that the choice of the next prime minister rests with Israeli voters. Eisenkot stated that while he appreciated Trump's contributions to Israel's security, "only the citizens of Israel decide who will be prime minister." Avigdor Lieberman accused Trump of seeking to control Israel through Netanyahu, whom he called a "puppet."

The Likud's use of Trump's support comes amid a tight election race, with polls indicating Netanyahu's bloc may not secure a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu himself expressed concern about winning the election and urged his supporters to vote. He characterized the election as a confrontation between "the right and Palestine" and warned against a government led by Eisenkot relying on Arab parties and opposition forces.