Israel Vote: US Advisers Prepare for a Post-Netanyahu Approach

Advisers to President Donald Trump are preparing to work with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political opposition should he lose the October 27 election. US officials told Axios that the team is looking at the race without a preference, though several people close to the president objected to his endorsement of Netanyahu.

One Trump adviser described the relationship by saying, "[Netanyahu] is the devil [Trump] knows." Vice President JD Vance declined to name a side when questioned this week. "I'm not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I'm not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu. I think the president's endorsement is ultimately what matters," Vance told reporters.

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has raised objections to how the Netanyahu government handles Syria and Israel's continuing military operations there. After Israeli strikes hit a base in the northern Idlib province, Barrack called the strike an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability." Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his staff maintain a closer working relationship with the prime minister. According to the report, they believe Israel should do more to strengthen Lebanon's government. They also expressed frustration over what they see as Netanyahu's failure to curb settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

The latest Maariv poll places the opposition bloc at 54 seats, ahead of Netanyahu's bloc at 48. Asked about government formation, 60% of respondents favored a unity election result if no clear majority emerges, 23% wanted a new election, and 17% were undecided.

Within that group favoring a unity government, 33% wanted an opposition candidate leading it, 19% preferred Netanyahu, and 8% supported a unity government regardless of its leader. In a direct matchup for prime minister, Eisenkot stood at 49% against Netanyahu's 41%.