Trump refuses to endorse Netanyahu ahead of elections in Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump refused to back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for another term in office ahead of the upcoming elections, avoiding a direct endorsement of his longtime ally in an interview published on Thursday.

“Well, I can only say that I am no longer involved in politics, except that we are popular,” Trump told TIME magazine when asked whether the prime minister should be given another term in the October 27 elections.

Asked again, he replied: “No, my main thing is, I want to help them defend Israel,” steering away from a clear endorsement in the interview conducted on Monday.

Trump instead pointed to his personal standing among the Israeli public, claiming his popularity reaches “about 99%” because of past policies.

Asked whether Washington could cooperate more effectively with opposition candidate and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said he had not “heard bad things about him”, but warned against dismissing Netanyahu.

“People have underestimated Bibi, Netanyahu, many, many times, just as they have underestimated me many, many times. I would not underestimate Bibi,” Trump said.

Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has reportedly become more strained in recent months over the war on Iran and Israel’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon and Gaza.