White House Staffers Draft Plans for Post-Netanyahu Israel
Internal reports indicate a growing push among senior advisors to pivot toward the opposition if Benjamin Netanyahu loses the October 27 election.
By Christopher Singh ·
Senior advisers to President Donald Trump are actively preparing to engage with the Israeli opposition if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loses the upcoming election.
US officials told Axios that many of the president’s closest aides opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu. They argued that the White House should have remained neutral in the race. One adviser summarized the internal sentiment by calling Netanyahu the devil that Trump knows.
Tensions within the administration over Israel policy have surfaced in recent weeks. Vice President JD Vance declined to support the prime minister directly this week. He stated that he was neither attacking nor endorsing Netanyahu, noting that the president’s endorsement was the primary factor. The report also cited concerns from US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack. Barrack criticized Israeli strikes in Syria’s Idlib province as an unnecessary escalation that hindered regional stability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team maintain closer ties with Netanyahu but hold distinct policy views. They believe Israel should do more to strengthen Lebanon’s government. The State Department has also expressed frustration over what it sees as Netanyahu’s insufficient efforts to curb settler attacks in the West Bank.
Polling data suggests a shift in Israeli politics ahead of the vote on October 27. A new Maariv survey shows the opposition bloc holding a lead of 54 seats, while Netanyahu’s coalition trails with 48. The gap has widened recently as the incumbent’s position weakens.
The survey indicates that 60% of respondents prefer a unity government if no clear majority emerges. Only 23% favor a second election. Among those supporting a unity cabinet, 33% want a leader from the opposition bloc, compared with 19% who prefer Netanyahu. A head-to-head matchup in the poll shows Benny Gantz leading Netanyahu with 49% support against 41% for the incumbent.
The next scheduled event is the national election on October 27. Voters will cast ballots that will determine whether Netanyahu retains his position or if the opposition takes control of the government.
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