President Isaac Herzog confirms he will choose Israel’s next leader independently, resisting pressure from Donald Trump’s endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu as political tensions rise ahead of the upcoming national elections.
Herzog Defends Election Autonomy
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has affirmed that any decision on who will lead Israel after Tuesday’s election will be taken without any external pressure. Herzog who will be called upon to invite one of the Knesset Members to form a government made the remarks amidst a second endorsement from US President Donald Trump for incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud led coalition.
Speaking to US network, MS NOW, Herzog said he would not bow to pressure from President Donald Trump. “I don’t think the President of the United States or anybody else can intervene in my discretion, the discretion has to be based on certain facts, and we will see what the facts are…There will be a lot of pressure, though, regardless,” he said. Herzog said he has “huge respect” for Trump and welcomes any dialogue, but the decision will be his, and his alone.
Trump Endorses Netanyahu
Earlier, Trump endorsed Netanyahu for the second time saying, ” When you go to the Polls, please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding Warrior Prime Minister! Israel was called The Little Satan, with the United States being called The Big Satan, by some very evil people. There can no longer be the chant heard around the World of “Death to America, Death to Israel,” and there won’t be. Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started.” Netanyahu has since shared the exact post of Donald Trump on his X account.
Netanyahu’s Campaign Strategy
On Sunday, Netanyahu used the endorsement he got from US President Trump to project a doomsday scenario if his coalition does not come to power. Netanyahu posted an AI-generated image on social media depicting a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv, warning the public that voting for anyone other than him could expose Israelis to the danger of a “second Holocaust.” Quoting Right-wing activist Yuval Blumberg’s statements, Netanyahu’s post read, “The State of Israel is in real and tangible existential danger. If the Iranians acquire nuclear weapons, nothing will ever be the same again. Everything is so trivial compared to the existential threat of Iran and the Shiite axis.”
“We have another two years of Trump to finish the work in Iran, and there’s no telling what will come after that—whether it’s Kamala Harris or some other mediocre figure. This is the window of time we have left to complete the necessary work to ensure our physical existence for the coming years. All the required resources of the state must be invested in this mission… This won’t happen with a prime minister who can’t pick up the phone and have a continuous, intimate conversation with Trump,” the post read.
Opposition Perspective
His main rival Gadi Eisenkot chose to play down the endorsement saying that Trump would cooperate with any chosen leader of Israel. “Donald Trump is a true friend of Israel. I appreciate his actions and commitment to Israel’s security, and I am convinced that he will work in full cooperation with any leader chosen by the people. Citizens of Israel, I believe in you that you will choose according to the dictates of your conscience and for the future of the State of Israel. Trust me. Straight! A large gap victory over the Likud will ensure the change and bring about the victory of the majority of the Zionist state-oriented [camp] in Israel,” he said.
Israel’s Electoral System
Israel uses a party-list proportional representation system. Under this system, voters cast their ballots for lists of candidates, and each list receives a number of seats in the Knesset proportional to its share of the vote. Israel has an electoral threshold: only lists that receive at least 3.25% of the valid votes participate in the allocation of Knesset seats. The Knesset is made up of 120 Members. (ANI)
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