By Abida Kahlun
Bureau Chief Helsinki
SNN News Finland
TEL AVIV — Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has reportedly pressed US President Donald Trump to reinforce his public endorsement, days before a national election in which polls show his bloc short of a majority.
Two calls in three days
According to an Israeli source cited in accounts of the exchanges, Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice within three days, urging the US president to intensify his public support for the Israeli leader ahead of the vote.
The appeals follow an endorsement Trump issued in mid-October — an unusual intervention by a US president in Israeli electoral politics. The question now is whether a repeat, or an expansion, of that support can move enough voters.
A request to speak to Israeli reporters
The same Israeli source said Netanyahu also proposed that Trump speak directly with Israeli reporters to express further backing. Such an arrangement would put the US president’s voice into Israeli media in the final stretch of the campaign.
Neither side has confirmed the details publicly, and the accounts rest on unnamed sources, so the specifics should be treated as reported rather than established.
Polls show the coalition short of 61 seats
Israelis vote for parties rather than directly for a prime minister, and the winning bloc must assemble at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset to govern.
Final polling from Israel’s main television networks put Netanyahu’s bloc at about 50 seats — well short of that threshold. Individual party projections have placed his Likud behind or level with the centrist rival led by Gadi Eisenkot, and the figures have varied between pollsters.
The gap matters because even a modest shift can decide which bloc can build a coalition, and because several small parties must clear the electoral threshold before their seats count at all.
‘A sign of desperation’
A US source described the appeals to Trump as “a sign of desperation”, according to accounts of the discussions — a characterisation that reflects how far the polling leaves the prime minister from a secure majority.
Not everyone reads the numbers the same way. Some outlets have published polls putting the bloc one or two seats higher, and the prime minister has himself pointed to divisions among pollsters. The election’s outcome, not the polling, will settle the argument.
Both leaders fighting elections
The dynamic is unusual because both figures are contesting their own political battles at the same time. Trump’s involvement gives Netanyahu a high-profile backer; whether that translates into seats is the open question.
Israel’s election is being held against a backdrop of regional tensions and of debate inside Israel over security and the country’s international standing. SNN News Finland has covered related developments, including a Trump-linked prize dispute and conditions in Gaza, as well as a proposed international outpost.
Key facts
- Who: Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and US President Donald Trump.
- What: Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump to reinforce and expand his public endorsement.
- How: two calls in three days, with a reported proposal that Trump speak to Israeli reporters.
- Polling: final polls from Israel’s main television networks put Netanyahu’s bloc at about 50 of 120 Knesset seats, short of the 61 needed.
- Framing: a US source described the outreach as “a sign of desperation”; the details rest on unnamed sourcing.
Frequently asked questions
Did Trump endorse Netanyahu?
Yes. Trump issued a public endorsement in mid-October, an unusual step for a US president in an Israeli election.
What did Netanyahu reportedly ask for?
According to an Israeli source, he asked Trump to reinforce his public support, and proposed that Trump speak directly with Israeli reporters.
How many seats does a bloc need?
61 in the 120-seat Knesset to form a government.
What do the polls show?
Final polling from Israel’s main television networks put Netanyahu’s bloc at roughly 50 seats, below the majority threshold, though individual polls vary.
Is any of this confirmed by both sides?
No. The accounts rely on unnamed sources and have not been confirmed publicly, so they are reported claims rather than established fact.
Verified by Scandinavian News Agency Finland.
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