Trump on Israel's Government Formation: Eisenkot and Netanyahu Have 'Very Similar Views,' Both Strongly Support What I Do
US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters before departing Florida on Sunday, November 8, weighed in on Israel's post-election government formation, describing Gadi Eisenkot, who has just been tasked with forming the next government, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as having "very similar views" and suggesting that either leader would strongly support his policies. The remarks were Trump's first public comments on Israel's post-election politics since President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming the next government.
Asked about Eisenkot being tasked with forming a government, Trump said: "Well, you know they're both fighting for that. They're very similar in terms of their policy and their view." He added: "And I guess he said very nice things about me. He says he loves Trump, but I don't know. I haven't seen what's happening."
Trump continued: "But it's certainly a contest between him and Bibi Netanyahu. We'll see what happens. They have very similar views. They're both strong on what I do."
The context is Israel's October 27 election, in which the governing bloc led by Netanyahu failed to secure a parliamentary majority. On November 8, Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and a former IDF chief of staff, with forming the next government; factions representing 67 Knesset members had recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 who recommended Netanyahu. Eisenkot now has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible extension of 14 additional days.
Trump had endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the election, but on Sunday he stopped short of expressing a preference over which of the two should ultimately lead Israel. After receiving the mandate, Eisenkot proposed a national emergency government and set out conditions for parties including Likud to join, and coalition talks are under way.
Related: Follow-Up: Eisenkot Formally Receives Mandate to Form Government, Vows National Emergency Government
(Source: The Jerusalem Post)
Source: The Jerusalem Post
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：以色列 Yashar 党领导人 Gadi Eisenkot 肖像（其办公室发言人供图）。图片来源：Yahav Trudler（Yahav Studio）摄，经 Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0。 / Photo: Portrait of Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Israel's Yashar party (photo released by his spokesperson's office). Source: Yahav Trudler (Yahav Studio) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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