Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has leveraged the support of Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, ahead of the elections in this country and hinted at the possibility of renewed war against Iran. Netanyahu stated in a television program on Sunday night that Trump will remain in his position for another two years and urged the people to vote for him.
Trump's Support and Threats Against Iran
Netanyahu stated that Trump is ready to take actions that would ultimately eliminate the threat from Iran, but this is only possible if Netanyahu himself remains in power. He also announced that he has instructed the Mossad and the Israeli army to overthrow the Iranian regime, considering this the only way to end the threat from Iran.
These statements come as the elections on Tuesday mark the first elections in Israel following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This election provides voters with an opportunity to judge the worst security failure in generations and the wars that followed.
Reactions from Netanyahu's Political Rivals
Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main rival and former Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, also expressed his views on social media, describing Trump as a "true friend of Israel." Eisenkot emphasized Trump's efforts and commitment to Israel's security and expressed confidence that he would continue to cooperate fully with any leadership chosen by the people.
Netanyahu, while at the head of the most right-wing government in Israel's history, seems to have shifted policies even further to the right. Almost all Jewish-centered parties, including Eisenkot's party, are now opposed to the "two-state solution" that has been the foundation of years of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Many voters believe that Netanyahu's divisive policies have weakened the country. Polls indicate that Netanyahu's Likud party may lose seats, which could deprive his coalition of right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties of its narrow majority.
At 77 years old, Netanyahu is considered a master of political survival. The only time his rivals succeeded in ousting him, it took four unsuccessful elections over two years, and he returned to power 18 months later.
On Monday, neither side had major public programs, but both addressed key election issues on social media. Netanyahu and his rivals promoted key themes of the election, which for Netanyahu included that he is the only leader with the courage to confront Israel's enemies, while for his rivals, his divisive policies have weakened the country.
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