Trump’s message about Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections

US President Donald Trump has refused to directly endorse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for another term ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections, avoiding a clear position on the matter, despite being a long-time political ally, Al Arabiya reported. 

In an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday (October 1), Trump was asked whether Netanyahu should get another term in the upcoming October 27 election. In response, he said, "I'm not involved in politics anymore. All I can say is, we are popular."

When asked the same question again, Trump said, "No, my main point is—I want to help defend Israel." He then avoided the topic of direct support.

Trump claims that his popularity among the Israeli people is "nearly 99 percent" due to various policy decisions he has made in the past.

In the interview, Trump was asked whether Washington would find it easier to work with opposition leader and former army chief Gadi Eisenkot. He said he had not heard anything bad about Eisenkot. But he advised not to underestimate Netanyahu.

"Many times people have written off Netanyahu as politically dead, just like they did me. I will not look down on Netanyahu," Trump said.

The report also noted that relations between Trump and Netanyahu have been strained in recent months over the war with Iran, as well as Israel's ongoing military operations in Lebanon and Gaza.

Trump also expressed doubts about reports that Netanyahu received advance intelligence before the October 7, 2023 attack. "I don't think so," he said. "If he had known in advance, he would have done something."   

Comments on the Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz

In the interview, Trump also spoke about the ongoing war with Iran. He said that while the military operation was initially planned for four to eight weeks, he decided to expand the operation to more widely destroy Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure.

In his words, 'I could have stopped right then and there if I wanted to. But I felt it wouldn't have been appropriate.'

Trump also claimed that Iran was able to close the Strait of Hormuz for a while after the war began. But the United States later took control of the strategic waterway. About one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait.

He also said he rejected Iran's offer of a ceasefire in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The terms of the offer, Trump said, were "not good enough."

Asked whether airstrikes against Iran would be stepped up after the upcoming US congressional elections, Trump initially said, "Possibly." But later changed his position, saying, "I can't tell you that."