US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday, November 8, 2026, that Gadi Eisenkot—the opposition leader tapped to form Israel’s next government—and incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are "very similar in terms of policy".
Trump made the remarks at the White House when journalists pressed him for a reaction after Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially tasked Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar Party and head of the 'Change' bloc, with forming a coalition. "They're very similar in terms of their policy and their view... [Eisenkot] said very nice things about me. He says he loves Trump... It's certainly a contest between him and Bibi Netanyahu. We'll see what happens," Trump told reporters.
Read nextBangladesh Delegation Led by Religious Minister Kaikobad Attends 6th Hajj Conference in JeddahThe announcement follows the recent 120-seat Knesset election, where Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar-led alliance gained 48 seats. With neither major bloc securing an absolute 61-seat majority, support from the two Arab parties—the Joint Arab List (11 seats) and Ra'am (8 seats)—proved decisive, as both expressed a preference for Eisenkot over Netanyahu's outgoing right-wing coalition. Although Trump previously endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the elections, he refrained from endorsing either candidate on Sunday, noting that both figures align closely with US strategic goals in the region.
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Reported by International Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
