Polls Show Israeli Opposition Holds 54-Seat Lead as Trump Aides Plan for Post-Netanyahu Shift
White House staff are preparing to engage with the opposition bloc, a move that reflects growing internal disagreement over the president's endorsement of the incumbent prime minister.
By Javier Cabrera ·
Trump advisers are preparing to work with the Israeli opposition if Benjamin Netanyahu loses the upcoming election. US officials told Axios that staff are optimistic about the opportunities available if the prime minister's bloc falls short.
The shift in preparation reflects a split within the administration. Many of the president's closest aides opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu, arguing he should have stayed out of the race. One adviser summarized the sentiment by calling Netanyahu the devil the president knows.
Vice President JD Vance declined to back the prime minister this week. He stated that he was neither attacking nor endorsing the incumbent, noting that the president's endorsement is what matters most to voters.
Tensions over Israeli policy also surfaced during the period. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack criticized the Netanyahu government's actions in Syria. He described recent strikes on a base in the Idlib province as an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team maintain a better relationship with the prime minister but hold differing views on strategy. They believe Israel could do more to strengthen the Lebanese government and have expressed frustration with what they see as a failure to curb settler attacks in the West Bank.
A recent Maariv poll shows the political landscape shifting ahead of the October 27 vote. The opposition bloc widened its lead to 54 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc dropped to 48. In a head-to-head matchup for prime minister, Benny Gantz led Netanyahu with 49% support against 41% for the incumbent.
The survey indicates a preference for stability over a second vote. Sixty percent of respondents said they would prefer a unity government if the election fails to produce a clear governing majority. Among those supporters, 33% wanted a candidate from the opposition bloc to lead, compared with 19% who preferred Netanyahu.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
