Trump Claims His Endorsement Led to Netanyahu's Election Gains
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed his endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu turned the tide in Israel's recent elections, shifting Netanyahu from potential defeat to a possible win or tie. Initial results showed Netanyahu's Likud party as the largest, but no bloc secured a clear majority to form a government. Netanyahu highlighted a "historic opportunity" with Trump to counter Iran and expand normalization agreements.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Donald Trump stated his endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu changed the Israeli election outcome from defeat to a potential tie or win.
- Initial Israeli election results showed a close race with no clear majority for any bloc.
- Netanyahu's Likud party was the largest party, but failed to secure a governing majority with allies.
- Netanyahu cited a "historic opportunity" with Trump to address the "Iranian threat" and expand normalization.
- Trump expressed a desire for the best for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu significantly altered the course of the Israeli elections. Trump claimed on his "Truth Social" platform that his support shifted Netanyahu from facing a decisive defeat to a potential political tie or even an electoral victory. He stated that the "entire landscape changed" after his endorsement, suggesting that instead of a "great prime minister" being decisively beaten, the outcome now appears to be a "big tie" or a win for Netanyahu.
Trump attributed this turnaround entirely to his announcement of support, adding that he desires only the best for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States. These remarks followed the release of initial Israeli election results and updates, which indicated a close race between Netanyahu's bloc and opposing Zionist parties. While some results showed an advantage for Netanyahu's camp, others indicated a tie, leaving the formation of the next government uncertain.
Despite the close contest, the Likud party, led by Netanyahu, emerged as the largest party in all reported counts. However, neither Netanyahu's bloc nor his opponents secured the necessary parliamentary majority to form a government. In his post-election address, Netanyahu declared Likud the largest party and asserted that the right-wing bloc held a majority among Jewish and Zionist voters. He pledged to form a "strong right-wing government" while awaiting final vote counts.
Netanyahu also spoke about Israel's relationship with Washington under Trump's presidency, describing it as a "historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to "permanently remove the Iranian threat." This statement hinted at a potential resumption of conflict with Iran. He further stated his intention to work with Trump to confront what he termed Israel's "existential threat," alongside strengthening the "Abraham Accords" and expanding normalization with additional countries.
