White House Staff Prepare for Shift in Jerusalem as Election Nears
Senior aides to President Trump are strategizing for a potential change in Israeli leadership, signaling a willingness to engage with the opposition if the current prime minister loses power.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Advisers to President Donald Trump are positioning their foreign policy teams to work with the political opposition in Israel should Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lose the country's upcoming election. According to US officials, the White House is optimistic about the opportunities that would arise if the current leader steps down. This shift in strategy highlights a growing readiness within the administration to pivot its diplomatic approach based on the outcome of the vote scheduled for late October.
The move comes amid visible disagreement among the president's closest aides. Many of them opposed the decision to officially endorse Netanyahu, arguing that the United States should have remained neutral in the Israeli race. One senior adviser summarized the dynamic by stating that Netanyahu is the devil the president knows. This sentiment suggests that while the administration has a working relationship with the current government, it is not without internal friction.
Vice President JD Vance has attempted to navigate these internal tensions by taking a measured public stance. When asked about the race this week, he declined to explicitly back the prime minister. He told reporters that he was not attacking or endorsing the incumbent, noting that the president's endorsement is ultimately the one that matters. This careful wording reflects the administration's attempt to balance its public support for Netanyahu with the practical realities of a changing political landscape in Israel.
Strains within the administration over specific policy issues have also become apparent. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack raised concerns about the Netanyahu government's approach to Syria. Following Israeli strikes on a base in the northern Idlib province, Barrack described the attack as an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability. This criticism points to a desire for a more cautious approach to military operations in the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team have maintained a generally better relationship with the prime minister, but they have voiced distinct frustrations. They believe Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon's government. Additionally, they have expressed dissatisfaction with what they view as Netanyahu's failure to curb settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. These policy differences underscore the complexity of the US-Israel relationship as the election draws near.
The latest polling data suggests that the opposition bloc is widening its lead. A recent survey by Maariv indicated that the opposition could secure 54 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc has dropped to 48. If the election fails to produce a clear governing majority, 60 percent of respondents said they would prefer a unity government. Among those who favored such a coalition, 33 percent wanted a candidate from the opposition to lead it, compared to 19 percent who preferred Netanyahu.
In a direct head-to-head matchup for the prime ministerial role, the opposition leader Eisenkot holds the advantage. The poll found that 49 percent of respondents supported Eisenkot, while 41 percent backed the incumbent. With the vote just days away, these numbers indicate a volatile political environment in which the US administration is preparing for multiple potential outcomes.
