Trump calls on Israel to re-elect Netanyahu in tomorrow’s elections so they can ‘finish the job’ in Iran
US President Donald Trump urged Israelis to re-elect Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the two could “finish the job” in Iran. The endorsement comes ahead of Tuesday’s election, the first since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, which is widely seen as a vote on Netanyahu’s leadership.
The campaign has focused on Netanyahu’s responsibility for the security failure, military-service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men and his 2023 judicial overhaul. About 68 per cent of Jewish Israelis say the 7 October attack is central to their voting decision, compared with 32 per cent of Arab voters; around a quarter of Jewish voters cite conscription as a key issue. Major parties broadly support settlements in the occupied West Bank and oppose a Palestinian state.
In short
- Trump urged Israelis to re-elect Netanyahu.
- The vote is widely seen as a test of Netanyahu’s leadership.
- October 7 and military-service exemptions are key campaign issues.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that re-electing Netanyahu would preserve experienced leadership during a period of serious security threats, and that his close relationship with Trump may strengthen Israel’s ability to confront Iran. They may also see completing the campaign against Iran as necessary to protect Israel from future attacks.
The case against
Critics could argue that Netanyahu’s government bears political responsibility for the security failure of 7 October, making a fresh mandate inappropriate without accountability. They may also contend that an election endorsement by a foreign leader risks intruding on Israeli voters’ choice, while escalating the confrontation with Iran could deepen regional conflict and distract from domestic concerns such as military-service exemptions and judicial reform.
Explained simply
Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s prime minister and leads the Likud party. The 7 October 2023 Hamas attack exposed major failures in Israel’s security, and voters have debated how much responsibility Netanyahu bears for them.
Other issues include whether ultra-Orthodox men should be exempt from military service and changes to the courts proposed by Netanyahu’s government in 2023. Israel’s major parties also broadly support settlements in the occupied West Bank and oppose a Palestinian state, positions that shape its relations with Palestinians and other countries.
Donald Trump is the US president, and the United States is a close ally of Israel. His comments link the Israeli election to Iran, a regional rival of Israel; the phrase “finish the job” refers to their confrontation, rather than an Israeli election process.
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