Trump endorsement appears to lift Netanyahu in Israel's election fight
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President Donald Trump said his backing helped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exceed expectations in Israel's parliamentary vote, while early counts show Netanyahu's bloc close but still short of a majority.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his endorsement contributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stronger-than-expected showing in Israel's parliamentary elections, underscoring the impact of a high-profile show of support. Trump made the remarks while returning from a campaign rally in Texas, noting that the endorsement "helped him a lot" and that "he's probably winning or tied."
Preliminary official counts released by the Central Elections Committee showed Netanyahu's Likud party projected to win 28 seats, with his right-wing and religious bloc reaching 57 seats out of the 120-member Knesset. The rival bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was projected at 47 seats, leaving Netanyahu's coalition four seats short of the 61 needed for a majority.
Trump acknowledged that the results were still early and subject to change, but said leading observers in Israel were recognizing the unexpectedly strong performance. He also posted on his social-media platform a statement attributed to Irving C. Schwartz that credited the endorsement with reversing Netanyahu's electoral fortunes.
The vote count remains ongoing, and both political camps face the prospect of complex coalition negotiations to form a government.