By Fatma Younis
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would "take a look" at helping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Netanyahu claimed the recent Israeli election was "stolen."
Trump's endorsement impact
Trump told Axios that his endorsement had made a big difference for Netanyahu, whom he referred to by his nickname "Bibi." He said he initially received "horror reports" about Netanyahu's polling prospects but now felt the prime minister was "in pretty good shape." Asked whether he might intervene to help form a Netanyahu-led unity government, Trump said he had not thought about it but would "take a look."
Election results and fraud allegations
With nearly 94% of votes counted, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, ahead of the 48 seats projected for rival Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc. Arab parties won an unprecedented 19 seats, leaving neither side a clear path to a majority. Likud alleged voter fraud at Arab polling stations, but Israeli police said they had no investigative or intelligence evidence to support the claims, noting 48 complaints nationwide, down from nearly 80 in the previous election.
Coalition prospects and regional implications
Netanyahu remains in power as caretaker prime minister, retaining authority over the war in Iran. The outcome will influence U.S.-Israeli relations, which have centered on the joint fight against Iran, stalled Gaza peace efforts, and declining U.S. public support for Israel. Experts say any future Israeli leadership would likely align with Trump on escalating pressure against Iran, and the coming period will involve painstaking coalition bargaining or possibly another election.
