Trump takes the credit as Netanyahu edges ahead in Israeli elections

Donald Trump took the credit yesterday for boosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tuesday's elections.The US leader posted: 'When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a great prime minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu.'Mr Trump publicly backed Netanyahu on October 18, just nine days before Israelis went to the polls, giving the country's longest-serving Prime Minister 'complete and total endorsement'.Early results showed the Israeli PM's Likud party and its allies had fared better than expected.His Right-wing bloc was on course to secure 53 seats in the country's parliament compared with 48 for a coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party.But with at least 61 seats needed to secure a majority, Mr Netanyahu still faces a tough fight to stay in power. The final results are expected today.Difficult decisions lie in the weeks ahead, including whether some Jewish and Arab parties would team up in a historic alliance, or whether some parties that campaigned on ousting Netanyahu would toss that aside and join forces with the deeply divisive prime minister. While this plays out, Netanyahu remains in charge.Final results could come as early as this evening after about a half-million absentee ballots are counted from military personnel, diplomats, people in prisons and hospitals, and others. They are not expected to sway the results dramatically.Donald Trump has taken credit for Benjamin Netanyahu's performance in the Israeli elections A man casts his vote at a polling station in the Bnei Brak neighbourhood on October 27, 2026 in Tel Aviv, IsraelThe chief rival to Netanyahu, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, in his first public statement since an address to supporters yesterday, spoke of a government in service to all and reflecting the will of the people.He did not mention the prospect of joining forces with the Arab-led parties.One of those Arab parties, the Joint List, late Wednesday noted the 'unprecedented show of strength' and the Jewish voters 'willing to swim against the tide of racism.' It said it was open to political cooperation.Netanyahu's Likud party, despite receiving the most votes, has accused the Arab-led parties of stealing the election and asked the election committee to investigate. It did not provide specific evidence to support its claims. The election committee has said the number of reported irregularities in the relatively calm election was low.Israel's president next week will task someone to form the next government. It has traditionally been the leader of the party with the most votes, but that's not required.If a new government cannot be formed after multiple attempts, Israel would face a new election early next year. On Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog signaled he wanted to avoid that step — something Eisenkot has said as well.New elections bring new questions, including whether Arab citizens would again go to the polls in large numbers and whether the tens of thousands of Israelis who flew home to vote would do it again. Many had said they took that step to save the country from Netanyahu.Israel, already divided along multiple fault lines — Jews and Arabs, secular and religious — entered the election with huge and painful issues at stake. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures while addressing supporters during a Likud party election event in Jerusalem, 28 October 2026 Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, waves an Israeli flag following the exit polls at his party headquarters, on the evening of Israel's national election, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 28, 2026 People spray sparkling wine as they celebrate early exit poll results for Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 eft-wing Israelis gather to demand a joint government of Arabs and Jews and block roads in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 28, 2026 Voters line up to cast their ballots at a school serving as a polling station during Israel's general election in Herzliya, Israel An aerial view shows a campaign billboard depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party and US President Donald Trump in Tel Aviv on October 26, 2026Those include whether the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox population should remain exempted from compulsory military service in a country where many families have seen their sons and daughters killed in three years of inconclusive wars.Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has been especially polarizing, with corruption allegations hanging over him along with accusations that he delayed making deals over the war in Gaza, including to free hostages, for political gain.While many Israelis voted with security issues first in mind, the country's international standing is also at stake after widespread criticism over the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and growing violence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.For Arab citizens, there is cautious hope of change. 'God willing, we will have something for us in the government, something that will bring us our rights,' said Brosli Elias, a resident of Nazareth, one of Israel's largest Arab cities.Meanwhile, the threat of further strikes against Iran adds to the election uncertainty, as the Trump administration has spoken of new attacks after the midterm elections on November 3. Experts have said Netanyahu could seize on the renewed all-out war to press for a unity government with him in charge.