White House staff prepare to partner with Israel's opposition bloc

US officials told Axios that the Trump administration is positioning itself to work with the political opposition if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loses the upcoming Israeli election. The shift comes as the election date approaches on October 27. Many of the president's closest advisers opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu. They believed the US should stay out of the race entirely.

One Trump adviser described the situation bluntly. "[Netanyahu] is the devil [Trump] knows," the official said. This sentiment reflects a growing willingness among the administration's inner circle to pivot their diplomatic strategy. The White House is preparing for the possibility that the current prime minister steps down.

Vice President JD Vance recently clarified his stance on the race. He declined to explicitly back Netanyahu when asked by reporters. "I'm not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I'm not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu," Vance stated. He noted that the president's endorsement is what carries the most weight in the race.

Internal friction over Israeli policy has emerged within the administration. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack raised concerns about the Netanyahu government's approach to Syria. He criticized Israeli military strikes in the Idlib province. Barrack called the attack an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team have maintained a closer relationship with the prime minister. However, they believe Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon's government. The State Department has also expressed frustration with what they view as Netanyahu's failure to curb settler attacks in the West Bank. These differences indicate that the administration is not a monolith on this issue.

The polling data driving these plans comes from a Maariv survey. The opposition bloc now holds a lead of 54 seats. Netanyahu's bloc has dropped to 48 seats. The survey found that 60% of respondents prefer a unity government if the election fails to produce a clear majority. Only 23% favored another election, while 17% remained undecided.

In a head-to-head matchup for prime minister, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz leads the field. The poll shows Gantz with 49% support against 41% for Netanyahu. Among those who want a unity government, 33% prefer a candidate from the opposition bloc to lead it. Another 19% would prefer Netanyahu, and 8% support a unity government regardless of the leader.