US president Donald Trump has claimed that his endorsement helped Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu turn the tide in Israel’s 26th Knesset election, contributing to the incumbent’s better-than-expected performance. Partial results showed Netanyahu’s bloc leading the race but falling short of the majority needed to form a government.With 57.3% of ballot boxes counted as of 7:58 am, partial results released by the Central Elections Committee showed the pro-Netanyahu bloc securing 55 seats, against 49 for the anti-Netanyahu bloc. Arab parties were projected to win 16 seats.Meanwhile, Reservists, with 2.6% of the vote, People of Israel, with 1.7%, and Charedi Public, with 0.2%, remained below the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset. Votes cast in double envelopes, including those of soldiers, are counted later.On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social, where he shared comments by Irving C Schwartz, “When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu.“It all took place AFTER the Endorsement by President Trump, who only wants what is good for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States of America!”Additionally, The Jerusalem Post reported that, while speaking to reporters on the tarmac near Air Force One after attending a rally in Texas, Trump said the Israeli leader had exceeded expectations.“I heard the poll numbers were wrong…, the exit polls; I heard he [Netanyahu] did very well. It was pretty close, but very well. When the endorsement went out, it helped him a lot,” Trump said.He added, “It’s a little bit early, but I’m hearing in Israel, top people say, ‘Wow! He did a lot better than people thought.’ It’s looking like maybe a stalemate or a win.”The remarks came after Netanyahu publicly highlighted Trump’s support ahead of the election. In a televised appearance late on Sunday night, the Israeli prime minister praised the US president’s backing.“US President Donald Trump has come with a friendship that has never existed before between an Israeli prime minister and an American president. And it is doubtful we will ever have such a friendly president again,” Netanyahu said.“He has another two years, and he says he is calling on you to vote for me.”Trump had urged Israelis to back Netanyahu in a social media post on Sunday, writing: “Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!”Netanyahu also suggested that the two countries could take further action against Iran, saying Trump was willing to act “that would finally, finally, remove the Iranian threat”. He added that he had instructed Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to pursue regime change in Iran.Meanwhile, the exit polls suggested that Netanyahu’s bloc and Eisenkot’s each won about 51 seats, and Arab parties won about 18. Netanyahu called for a right-wing government, claiming his bloc had a “significant, decisive majority” among Jewish voters and those supporting a Jewish state.
