Report: Trump administration establishing contacts with Israeli opposition figures amid political uncertainty
The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly established contacts with prominent Israeli opposition figures amid growing expectations of political change in Israel and continuing tensions between Washington and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, officials within the Trump administration believe there is a significant possibility that Israel could see a change in government, prompting informal outreach to opposition leaders.
The report said US officials have held contacts with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as part of efforts to maintain communication channels across Israel’s political spectrum.
Channel 12 reported that some officials in Washington are concerned about the influence of hardline factions within Netanyahu’s governing coalition and are seeking to establish relationships with potential future political leaders.
The report also said opposition figures have recently intensified efforts to strengthen ties with members of the US administration, particularly officials who have expressed criticism of Netanyahu’s policies.
According to the broadcaster, the contacts reflect what it described as a growing crisis of confidence and increasing policy disagreements between Washington and the current Israeli government.
The report added that while President Trump continues to support Netanyahu publicly, some members of his administration believe there is a need to develop alternative channels of communication and informal trust mechanisms within Israel’s political establishment.
The claims have not been officially confirmed by either the White House or the Israeli government.
The report comes days after a public opinion survey published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv suggested that opposition parties could secure a parliamentary majority if elections were held now.
According to the poll, opposition parties would win 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 49 seats for parties aligned with Netanyahu.
The survey also showed growing support for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, whose political movement was projected to win 21 seats, matching the number forecast for Netanyahu’s Likud party.
