US President Donald Trump has once again expressed support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the 27 October elections, urging voters in the occupation regime to vote for Netanyahu and saying the two leaders should complete the process they started together.

Trump made the remarks in a post on his social media account, directly intervening in the election campaign and describing Netanyahu as an “extraordinary warrior prime minister.”

“Please remember when you go to the polls that Bibi is an extraordinary warrior prime minister. Vote for Bibi Netanyahu as prime minister; we must finish what we started,” Trump said.

Trump continues open support for Netanyahu

Trump had previously announced his “full and unconditional” support for Netanyahu on 18 October, warning that a change in leadership could affect Washington’s relations with Tel Aviv and its policies toward Iran.

The US president’s latest statement came shortly before the election, as Netanyahu faces a difficult race amid uncertainty over whether his political bloc can secure enough seats to form a government.

Trump’s direct involvement in the election has drawn attention, with analysts viewing the move as an unusual intervention by a foreign leader in the domestic political process of another country.

Netanyahu’s efforts to secure support

According to US news platform Axios, citing American and Israeli sources, Netanyahu held two meetings with Trump within three days and sought a stronger public endorsement from the US president.

The report claimed that Netanyahu suggested possible wording for future statements of support and asked Trump to speak with Israeli journalists by phone to publicly reinforce his backing.

An American source familiar with the matter said Netanyahu’s efforts were viewed by some officials in the White House as a “sign of desperation,” suggesting that the Israeli prime minister may believe he is struggling in the election race.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu’s Likud party, however, denied claims that the prime minister had requested such support from Trump before or after the previous endorsement.

Polls show Netanyahu bloc below majority threshold

Trump’s support came as pre-election polls indicated that Netanyahu’s bloc may fall short of the 61 seats needed to form a government in the 120-seat parliament.

According to recent surveys cited by Axios, three major television polls projected Netanyahu’s bloc at around 50 seats, while opposition parties were estimated to win between 52 and 56 seats.

The figures suggest that coalition negotiations after the election could become highly uncertain.

Vance keeps distance from Netanyahu endorsement

While Trump has openly backed Netanyahu, US Vice President JD Vance has avoided directly supporting any candidate in the election.

Asked whether he supported Netanyahu, Vance said: “I’m not attacking Bibi Netanyahu, but I’m not supporting Bibi Netanyahu either. Ultimately, I think what matters is the president’s support.”

The differing approaches between Trump’s direct endorsement and Vance’s more cautious position have highlighted different tones within the US administration regarding Netanyahu’s political future.(ILKHA)