Netanyahu and Trump Face Political Setbacks Amid Regional Turmoil

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump have both suffered significant political blows, according to an analysis published on November 13, 2026. The article suggests that the current changes in the Middle East are not in line with Netanyahu's vision, but rather the opposite, leading to a Middle East that will be "free of Netanyahu, who destroyed the region."

Netanyahu, who has served as Prime Minister for approximately nineteen years with two brief interruptions, lost the recent elections. He remains in a caretaker role pending the formation of a new government, with the best-case scenario being that Gadi Eisenkot fails to form a government, and the mandate returns to Netanyahu, or new elections are called. The article claims Netanyahu is employing tactics to obstruct Eisenkot's government formation, including questioning the legitimacy of Arab party votes and alleging election theft, claims that election committees and police have refuted.

Similarly, Donald Trump experienced defeats in the Senate and House of Representatives elections. While he will remain in office until 2028, the article asserts he will be "handcuffed," unable to make decisions independently. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is quoted as acknowledging that the "war on Iran" with Israel was a cause of the electoral losses, a statement Trump reportedly agreed with.

Netanyahu's Likud party secured 27 seats, and its bloc 53 seats, against Eisenkot's Change bloc with 48 seats and two Arab lists with 19. An attempt to form a unity government with Eisenkot, potentially brokered by Trump, where Netanyahu would serve as Prime Minister for two years to "finish the mission in Iran" before handing over to Eisenkot, was rejected by Eisenkot. He reportedly stated he would not sit in a government led by Netanyahu, even if Trump requested it.

Further setbacks for Netanyahu included refusals from former allies Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman to cooperate. Unexpectedly, the United Torah Judaism party, with its seven seats, also refused to recommend Netanyahu, reducing his bloc's support from 53 to 46 seats. Netanyahu's caretaker government will continue until Eisenkot's government is formed, with Netanyahu hoping for Eisenkot's failure to regain the mandate.