Trump Aides Mull Israel Ties as Opposition Bloc Gains 6 Seats

Advisers to President Donald Trump are preparing to work with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political rivals if the prime minister loses the October 27 Knesset vote, US officials told Axios. One Trump adviser said, "[Netanyahu] is the devil [Trump] knows." The report said many of the president's closest aides opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu and argued he should stay out of the race.

Vice President JD Vance declined to take a side this week when reporters asked about the contest. "I'm not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I'm not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu. I think the president's endorsement is ultimately what matters," Vance said.

Disagreement over Netanyahu has surfaced inside the administration. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack criticized the Israeli government's handling of Syria after strikes on a base in Idlib province. Barrack called the attack an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability." Secretary of State Marco Rubio has kept closer ties with Netanyahu. Rubio's team believes Israel should do more to strengthen Lebanon's government and has pressed Netanyahu to curb settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Netanyahu's standing has slipped ahead of the vote. A Maariv poll found the opposition bloc at 54 Knesset seats against 48 for Netanyahu's bloc. The survey said 60% of respondents would prefer a unity government if no bloc wins a clear majority. Another 23% favored holding another election, while 17% were undecided.

Among those who backed a unity government, 33% wanted an opposition leader to run it. Nineteen percent preferred Netanyahu, and 8% supported a unity government under any prime minister. In a direct matchup, opposition figure Eisenkot led Netanyahu 49% to 41%.