Gadi Eisenkot faces a difficult coalition bid as Donald Trump plans to end military aid and Israel loses support in Washington.
Gadi Eisenkot faces the task of repairing US-Israel ties if he succeeds in forming Israel’s next government. The former military chief has a chance to assemble a coalition and replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, his path to power remains uncertain, while relations with Israel’s closest ally face mounting strain. President Donald Trump announced this month that he would end billions of dollars in annual military aid by year-end.
Trump also partly blamed Israel for Republican losses in the US midterm elections. Many Americans have turned against Israel over its devastating Gaza campaign and, even more, its push for war with Iran. That war drove a sharp rise in petrol prices.
US-Israel ties face pressure beyond the White House
Meanwhile, Democratic control of Congress could bring sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers and new settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Lawmakers could also impose new conditions on arms sales, adding another challenge for any incoming Israeli government.
Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington, said Israel had previously relied on Congress during disputes with the White House. However, he argued that this fallback no longer existed, leaving Israel without its traditional route for securing support.
Oren, who also served as deputy prime minister under Netanyahu, described the situation as unprecedented in the bilateral relationship. He said Israel would need to rebuild relations from the beginning, with substantial diplomatic work and no assurance of success.
