Trump team drafts plans to work with Israeli opposition

Advisers to President Donald Trump are preparing to engage with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political rivals if he loses the upcoming Israeli election. US officials told Axios that the White House sees an opportunity to build a new partnership should the incumbent be defeated on Oct. 27.

One adviser described the internal sentiment with the blunt assessment, "[Netanyahu] is the devil [Trump] knows." This view reflects a faction within the administration that opposes the president’s public endorsement of Netanyahu, arguing he should have remained neutral in the race.

Vice President JD Vance aligned with this cautious stance this week. When asked about the race, he said, "I'm not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I'm not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu. I think the president's endorsement is ultimately what matters." Vance’s comments signaled that the administration is keeping its options open.

Tensions over Israeli policy have already emerged within the cabinet. Ambassador Tom Barrack criticized the Netanyahu government’s handling of Syria, calling recent strikes in the Idlib province an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability." Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team maintain closer ties to the prime minister but express frustration over what they see as a lack of action to curb settler attacks in the West Bank and strengthen the Lebanese government.

The latest Maariv poll released ahead of the vote shows the opposition bloc expanding its lead to 54 seats. Netanyahu’s bloc has fallen to 48 seats. The survey indicates that 60% of respondents prefer a unity government if the election does not yield a clear majority, while 23% favor holding another election.

Among those supporting a unity government, 33% want a candidate from the opposition bloc to lead it. In a direct head-to-head comparison, Benny Gantz, known here as Eisenkot, leads Netanyahu with 49% support against 41% for the incumbent. The vote is scheduled for Oct. 27.