Trump Comments on Netanyahu’s Political Situation

On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump remarked that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in “pretty good shape now,” following his unexpected success in the elections. Trump suggested he could assist in forming a national unity government, as various political factions in Israel struggled to secure a governing majority.

Netanyahu’s party, Likud, has emerged as the largest in Israel, and his coalition performed much better than earlier poll predictions indicated. However, he still falls short of the 61 seats required to establish a government.

The political stalemate has sparked renewed conversations regarding a possible national unity government, with President Isaac Herzog urging the political leaders to avoid a repeat election. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s main opponents are hesitant to align with him.

In an interview with Axios, Trump mentioned he initially received alarming reports about Netanyahu’s chances but later learned that the prime minister had exceeded expectations. “He’s in pretty good shape now,” Trump noted.

Trump also mentioned that he believed his endorsement might have had a significant impact on Netanyahu’s campaign.

When asked if he would get involved in efforts to create a unity government led by Netanyahu, Trump admitted he hadn’t yet thought about it but didn’t dismiss the idea. “I will take a look,” he responded.

This opens up the possibility of U.S. involvement in Israel’s coalition discussions, although an American official indicated later that no decision had been made to intervene. Reports claiming specific coalition preferences from Washington were labeled as “false and premature,” with the official emphasizing it was too soon to gauge the administration’s role in the negotiations.

Another source stated that Trump might wait a few weeks before attempting to facilitate talks between Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, possibly inviting both to his Mar-a-Lago residence for discussions.

According to the latest provisional results from Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Netanyahu’s coalition is projected to hold 53 seats out of 120, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc is at 48, and the Arab parties secured 19 seats. Notably, Likud achieved the most seats with 26.

The election results marked a significant change from pre-election polls which had shown Eisenkot leading; however, neither side reached the 61-seat threshold necessary for independent governance, suggesting a lengthy negotiation process ahead.

The rise of Arab parties, which nearly doubled their seats, further complicates the pursuit of a governing majority. The Joint List and Ra’am are expected to provide 19 seats, contrasting with their previous 10 in the outgoing assembly. Turnout for the election reached about 77.7%, the highest in over 20 years.

While together the opposition and Arab parties might control 67 seats, many Jewish-led opposition parties have ruled out forming a government that includes Arab factions, meaning that majority does not translate to a clear path to power.

Despite this, Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen expressed a willingness to assist in ousting Netanyahu’s government, although Netanyahu has been vocally opposed to collaborating with parties he accuses of supporting terrorism.

The opposition itself is internally divided on cooperating with Arab factions. While Eisenkot and some leaders have dismissed the idea, Yair Golan from the left-wing Democrats party has called for more collaboration.

These divisions have rekindled conversations about a potential national unity government that could bring Netanyahu together with rivals, possibly avoiding another election.

Eisenkot, whose Yashar party is in the second position, has repeatedly rejected the idea of serving under Netanyahu, even in a shared leadership arrangement. Conversely, reports surfaced that Avigdor Liberman of the nationalist Yisrael Beytenu party has distanced himself from opposition colleagues, showing support for Eisenkot joining a unity government with Netanyahu.

Political advisors suggest public refusals might soften as coalition talks unfold, noting that significant changes are unlikely to happen right away.

President Herzog is set to begin consultations with parliamentary factions once the final election results are available next week, emphasizing the need to avoid yet another election cycle. “I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,” he stated.

In the aftermath of the election, Netanyahu has called for the creation of a “strong right-wing government,” while Eisenkot has expressed firm opposition to another Netanyahu-led administration.

The consultations will help determine which lawmaker gets the first chance to form a governing majority, a process that could take weeks and may lead to yet another election if negotiations don’t succeed. This political standoff occurs as Israel and the U.S. consider possible military actions against Iran, intensifying the urgency around forming a new Israeli government.

Throughout the coalition negotiations, Netanyahu will continue as a caretaker prime minister, maintaining control over vital national security decisions, including military actions against Iran, pending necessary government approvals.

According to a separate report, U.S. and Israeli officials are preparing for the possibility of renewed military campaigns against Iran following the upcoming midterm elections, contingent on the failure of diplomatic avenues. The Chief of Staff of the IDF has coordinated efforts with CENTCOM regarding potential operations.

Trump confirmed that indirect negotiations with Tehran are ongoing but expressed doubt about their potential success, asserting, “We need to finish the job — either through a deal or another way.”

A senior diplomatic official reiterated that security factors, rather than the timeline for the formation of Israel’s next government, will dictate decisions about renewed military action against Iran.

Currently, the Trump administration hasn’t committed to intervening in Israel’s coalition talks, leaving it for Netanyahu and his adversaries to address the legislative stalemate as Herzog prepares to formally initiate the process of determining the next government.