Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Iran and the Abraham Accords in a call Netanyahu released Oct. 19, highlighting their partnership before Israel’s Oct. 27 election.
Trump predicted Netanyahu would win and told him, “You’re the man I want by my side, Bibi.” Netanyahu said they had more to do on Iran and raised the prospect of expanding the Abraham Accords. He named no country that might join. The call included no announcement of another operation against Iran.
The conversation followed Trump’s Oct. 18 endorsement of Netanyahu. In his Truth Social post, Trump said a different Israeli leader would leave the United States to handle Iran-related work itself. He did not specify what that work would involve.
The Associated Press reported that Trump had held back from formally endorsing Netanyahu for months amid policy disputes. Trump criticized Israel’s attack on a major Iranian gas field, while Netanyahu opposed an August U.S. Gaza proposal under which Israeli forces would withdraw before Hamas disarmed, AP reported.
Trump has backed Netanyahu in previous Israeli elections, according to AP. The outlet said Netanyahu has promoted their relationship to voters and described Trump’s standing in Israel as a possible political benefit for the prime minister.
The Abraham Accords began normalizing Israel’s relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in 2020. Netanyahu’s reference to expanding them gave no indication of which country he had in mind.
Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief challenging Netanyahu, said Israelis would choose their next prime minister, The Times of Israel reported from an Oct. 18 campaign event.
Israel’s next scheduled step is the Oct. 27 election for the 120-seat Knesset. A separate process afterward will determine who forms the government.
