Trump aides draft pivot plan for Israeli opposition
Internal documents reveal a split in the administration as polling shows Netanyahu trailing with days until the vote.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Trump advisers are preparing to shift their diplomatic approach toward the Israeli opposition if Benjamin Netanyahu loses the upcoming election. US officials told Axios that the team is optimistic about potential cooperation with the rival bloc, despite the president's recent public support for the incumbent prime minister. One adviser described the current arrangement with blunt pragmatism, noting that Netanyahu is the devil Trump knows.
The move signals a growing tension within the White House staff. Many of the president's closest aides opposed the decision to endorse Netanyahu, arguing that the US should remain neutral in the domestic race. Vice President JD Vance echoed this distance this week. He told reporters that he was neither attacking nor endorsing the prime minister, while suggesting that the president's endorsement carried the most weight.
Friction over policy has also surfaced. Ambassador Tom Barrack criticized the Netanyahu government's strategy in Syria. Following Israeli strikes on a base in the Idlib province, Barrack called the action an unnecessary escalation that did not advance regional stability. The State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, maintains a warmer relationship with the prime minister but believes Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon's government and curb settler attacks in the West Bank.
These internal divisions coincide with a weakening polling position for Netanyahu. A survey published by Maariv shows the opposition bloc expanding its lead to 54 seats. Netanyahu's bloc has dropped to 48 seats. The election is scheduled for October 27.
The latest data also reveals voter preferences for government formation. Sixty percent of respondents prefer a unity government if no clear majority emerges. Twenty three percent favor holding another election, and 17 percent remain undecided. Among those supporting a unity government, 33 percent want a candidate from the opposition bloc to lead it. Only 19 percent prefer Netanyahu to head such a coalition.
In a direct matchup for the prime ministership, Gadi Eisenkot leads the incumbent. The poll found 49 percent support for Eisenkot against 41 percent for Netanyahu.
With the vote three days away, the administration appears to be hedging its bets. The draft plans outline a path for US engagement that does not depend on Netanyahu retaining power. The internal documents suggest a willingness to work with whichever bloc forms the next government.
