As the Israeli elections approach, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is racing against time to enhance his chances of remaining in power, aided by the public support of U.S. President Donald Trump, at a time when opinion polls reveal an expanding gap between his coalition and the opposition, raising concerns in the White House.
Axios reported - in a report by its correspondent Barak Ravid from Tel Aviv - that Netanyahu has asked Trump to intensify his public support for his electoral campaign in an attempt to bolster his chances ahead of Tuesday's elections, which he is facing amid indications of declining odds to retain power.
Ravid quoted an American source familiar with the matter and an Israeli source aware of Netanyahu's efforts, stating that Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice in the three days prior to the report, urging him to enhance the message he posted last week on his platform "Truth Social," in which he expressed his support for Netanyahu.
Drafts for additional support statements
The request was not limited to confirming the previous support; the American source indicated that Netanyahu suggested drafts for additional statements that could be issued by Trump, while the Israeli source reported that he also suggested that the U.S. president make calls to Israeli journalists to express his support more clearly.
According to the American source, the White House views these moves as a "sign of despair" and an indication that Netanyahu believes he is falling behind in the electoral race.
No immediate comment was issued by the White House or the Israeli Prime Minister's Office in response to the requests for comment mentioned in the report.
Polls warn of losing the majority
These efforts come at a time when opinion polls portray a troubling picture for Netanyahu. Recent final polls published by three major Israeli television networks - on Friday, October 23 - indicated that the coalition led by the Prime Minister is on track to fail to secure a parliamentary majority.
The three polls predicted that Netanyahu's camp would secure 50 seats in the 120-member Knesset, which is 17 seats fewer than the number currently held by his coalition, according to Axios. They also predicted that the Likud party, which currently holds 32 seats, would fall to around 20 seats.
In contrast, the polls forecast that the opposition camp led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot would secure between 52 and 56 seats, while two Arab Israeli parties could win between 14 and 16 seats. A poll from Channel 11 also predicted that the party list "Amcha Yisrael," which is not affiliated with either camp, would win 4 seats.
Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, October 18, after weeks of hesitation, even hinting that the Prime Minister's loss could have repercussions on U.S.-Israeli relations.
This position gives Netanyahu the opportunity to present himself as the candidate most capable of maintaining the partnership with Washington.