Trump Backs Netanyahu in Oct. 27 Vote as Likud Polls at 18-22 Seats

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 18

Donald Trump issued a full endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s Oct. 27 election, calling him the leader the U.S. needs as a partner against Iran.
Trump said any leader other than Netanyahu would leave Washington doing the work “ourselves,” tying his backing directly to the war on Iran and its nuclear ambitions.
Netanyahu quickly thanked Trump on X and said, “Together, we will complete the mission,” underscoring the campaign’s focus on security and U.S.-Israel coordination.
Likud is projected to win about 18-22 seats, while Netanyahu’s wider right-religious bloc is seen at 49-51 in the 120-seat Knesset, still short of the 61 needed to form a government.
That leaves smaller parties holding the balance of power after a vote that will be decided through coalition bargaining rather than a direct prime ministerial ballot.