What happened
President Donald Trump has endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's election, issuing a warning about Iran and stating that choosing another leader could jeopardize their partnership against the country. In a letter to "the Great People of Israel," Trump gave Netanyahu his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
Trump praised Netanyahu's endurance under pressure, saying he has been "Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition." The president also warned that if Israel selects a different leader, the US would have to confront Iran alone, which he said he is not inclined to do.
Netanyahu welcomed the endorsement, thanking Trump for his support and saying they will "complete the mission" together. However, the endorsement has not erased Netanyahu's electoral challenges, with a recent poll showing Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party ahead of Likud.
The endorsement is seen as unprecedented, with Trump being the first sitting American president to explicitly endorse an Israeli election candidate. The move has raised questions about renewed military action against Iran, with Trump saying "we will soon finish the job."
The endorsement has also sparked a reaction from other politicians, with Eisenkot saying that Israel's citizens alone will choose their leadership. Netanyahu denied seeking Trump's intervention, saying he had not requested the endorsement.
