Donald Trump’s enthusiastic statement of support for Netanyahu landed unexpectedly on Sunday afternoon, local time. Two days before, the U.S. president had said he wouldn’t express support for any Israeli candidate, and when asked if he trusts Netanyahu, he made a face and said he doesn’t trust anyone.
But on Sunday, he suddenly U-turned. He cited Iran as his main reason and implicitly threatened that if Netanyahu isn’t elected, America is unlikely to attack Iran on its own.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. Credit: Maayan Toaf/GPO
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. Credit: Maayan Toaf/GPO
We must admit that this was an October surprise. According to all the polls, Likud is going to get a drubbing, winning just 18 to 21 Knesset seats (down from 32 today). And the governing coalition as a whole is expected to lose 16 seats (falling from 68 to 52). There are no secret polls in which Netanyahu wins. That’s a fairy tale that even he is no longer trying to sell.
And nevertheless, Trump, who has already seen his personal intervention in elections fail – see Viktor Orban in Hungary – put his chips on Netanyahu. And his post on Sunday presumably won’t be his last shot; it was merely the start of a campaign for Bibi that will reach its peak on Tuesday of next week. When Trump gambles, he goes all in.