US President Donald Trump has declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for another term ahead of the upcoming election. In an interview published on Thursday, he refrained from explicitly backing his long-time ally.
When asked whether Netanyahu should be given another term in the October 27 election, Trump told Time magazine, “I can only say that I am not involved in politics right now, but we are quite popular there.”
When pressed further on the matter, he said, “No, my main goal is—I want to help ensure Israel’s security.” He sidestepped the issue of direct endorsement during the interview, which was conducted on Monday.
Instead, Trump highlighted his personal standing among the Israeli public, claiming that his popularity there hovers around 99 percent due to past policies.
Responding to a question about whether Washington could work more effectively with opposition candidate and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said he had heard nothing negative about Eisenkot but cautioned against dismissing Netanyahu entirely.
Trump remarked, “People have counted Bibi [Netanyahu] out many times, just as they counted me out many times. I wouldn’t underestimate Bibi.”
It is believed that tensions between Trump and Netanyahu have escalated in recent months due to rising friction over Iran and Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon and Gaza.
Source: Anadolu Agency
