A day after Donald Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu for the upcoming elections in Israel next week, the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reportedly held an undisclosed meeting with the Israeli PM in Israel.
First, they coincide with the elections in Israel on October 27. The coalition of Netanyahu’s Likud Party is in a tight spot, with the opposition alliance led by Yashar party of Gadi Eisenkot projected to hit the 52-seat majority mark in the 120-seat parliament, called the Knesset, according to a tracker on the website of Israeli news website Haaretz . Earlier reporting noted: News of Hegseth’s trip comes a day after US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu in next week’s parliamentary election in Israel – its first vote since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that shook the country and plunged the Middle East into turmoil, as Israel went to war in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Trump said unless Iran “change their ways, rapidly” US and Israel “will soon finish the job. Unlike his “dear friend” Trump, US Vice President JD Vance has not endorsed Netanyahu for the elections in Israel. “I’m not anti-endorsing him, but I’m not pro-endorsing him, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections,” Vance said, adding that he is focused on the US midterm elections.
Second, discussions have reportedly started between the US and Israel around potentially resuming strikes on Iran. In fact, the most recent from the US side came as Trump endorsed Netanyahu Sunday. “This is the kind of Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a Country for which it has done so much. Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming Race for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Israel. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”, Trump added. Vance was asked about it by Hungarian media outlet 2WAY during his visit to the country. Though the Ohio Republican endorsed Viktor Orbán for the upcoming elections in Hungary, he refused to do so for Netanyahu.
Earlier reporting noted: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge.
