Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted US President Donald Trump's endorsement on the eve of Israel's election, suggesting the two leaders could restart their war against Iran if he remains in power, after Trump called on Israeli voters to back him and said they needed to "finish the job".Trump, who launched the war against Iran jointly with Netanyahu in February, renewed his support for the Israeli leader in a social media post on Sunday, writing, "Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!"Speaking in a televised appearance later on Sunday, Netanyahu described his relationship with Trump as unprecedented and said the US president had urged Israelis to vote for him."US President Donald Trump has come with a friendship that has never existed before between an Israeli prime minister and an American president. And it is doubtful we will ever have such a friendly president again," Netanyahu said. "He has another two years, and he says he is calling on you to vote for me," he added.Netanyahu suggested Trump was prepared to take further action to eliminate what he described as the Iranian threat, linking the prospect to his continued leadership of Israel.
The Israeli prime minister also said he had instructed the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to bring down the Iranian regime."And I have already instructed the Mossad and the IDF to bring down this regime, to bring down this regime because that is the only way to put an end to this threat," Netanyahu said.Asked to comment on Netanyahu's remarks, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Iran was in "very bad condition", both economically and militarily, and that the US blockade would remain in force."The United States will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections," Kelly added in an email, referring to the November 3 vote in the US.Trump first endorsed Netanyahu on October 18 and reiterated his support on Sunday. Asked by reporters on Monday whether Netanyahu had requested the second endorsement, Trump said, "I never spoke about it.""I put out both endorsements.
I put out both... I think he's done a very good job as prime minister under very trying conditions," Trump said.NETANYAHU'S OPPONENT ACCUSES HIM OF FEAR-MONGERINGNetanyahu's leading opponent, centrist former military Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, described Trump as "a true friend of Israel" but said he would work with any leader chosen by the Israeli people.Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of using fear to win support ahead of Tuesday's election, pointing to social media posts featuring threats from Iran and an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv."Relying on a campaign of fear-mongering, lies, and threats—including images of nuclear bombs in the heart of Tel Aviv.
This time, it won't work for him," Eisenkot said.Netanyahu shared an AI-generated video on Monday depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a hospital bed, suggesting that another Netanyahu term could bring him closer to his deceased father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first night of US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.On Sunday, Netanyahu had also posted a computer-generated image of a mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv, warning that Israel faced an existential threat from Iran.ISRAEL VOTES AMID SECURITY CONCERNSTuesday's election is Israel's first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which exposed major security failures and triggered wars on multiple fronts.Netanyahu, 77, is seeking another term amid growing political divisions and criticism of his government's handling of national security. Polls suggest his Likud Party could lose seats, potentially depriving his coalition of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties of its narrow parliamentary majority.However, the opposition also faces difficulties in assembling a coalition capable of unseating Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister.Israeli politics have shifted further to the right, with nearly all Jewish-led parties, including Eisenkot's, opposing the two-state solution that has underpinned decades of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.While Netanyahu has presented himself as the leader best equipped to confront Israel's enemies, his opponents argue that his divisive politics have weakened the country.Trump's endorsement also comes at a politically sensitive time for the US president, whose Republican Party is seeking to retain power in the November 3 midterm elections.
The Iran war has proved deeply unpopular in the United States, with rising fuel prices adding to public discontent.Major fighting has been suspended for months following ceasefire negotiations held without Israeli participation. Netanyahu's remarks and Trump's call to "finish the job" have nevertheless raised the prospect of renewed confrontation with Iran as Israeli voters prepare to decide whether Netanyahu should remain in office.- Ends