US President Donald Trump has claimed that his endorsement helped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu perform better than expected in Israel’s parliamentary election, as preliminary results showed Netanyahu’s bloc leading with about half of the votes counted.
“When the endorsement went out, it helped him a lot,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday, October 28, while returning from campaign rallies in Texas. He said he had heard Netanyahu performed well, describing the race as close and suggesting the outcome could be a tie or a win for the Israeli prime minister.
According to preliminary figures reported early Wednesday, Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc was projected to win 55 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure 50 seats. The figures were based on a partial count and remained subject to change as more ballots were processed.
Neither bloc had reached the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the formation of the next government uncertain. Arab-led parties could play a significant role in coalition negotiations, although Netanyahu has rejected forming a government dependent on their support.
Trump had publicly endorsed Netanyahu before the vote, expressing support for the Israeli leader amid a closely contested campaign. The US president’s comments followed initial exit polls that suggested a tight race and a stronger-than-expected showing for Netanyahu’s Likud party.
However, Trump’s assertion that his endorsement helped improve Netanyahu’s performance has not been independently established by the preliminary results. The figures show the state of the contest as counting continues, but they do not establish what influenced individual voters.
The election has taken place against a backdrop of public debate over Netanyahu’s leadership, national security, the wars following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and Israel’s international standing. The final distribution of seats and the outcome of coalition negotiations will determine who can form the next government.
TheDailyNewsHub previously reported on Trump’s support for Netanyahu in its story, “Trump Urges Israelis to Re-Elect Netanyahu, Citing Iran War Partnership”. The website has also covered Iran’s response to the Israeli election and Netanyahu’s warnings ahead of election day.
[…] backed Netanyahu during the campaign, a development covered in TheDailyNewsHub’s report, “Trump Says His Endorsement Helped Netanyahu as Israel Vote Count Continues”. Debates over security, the war in Gaza and relations with neighbouring countries also remained […]