The Likud party announced this Wednesday (June 10, 2026) that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be a candidate in the elections scheduled for October. The confirmation came after the president of the United States, (Republican), stated that he was unaware of the Israeli leader’s electoral plans. In a statement, the party declared that Netanyahu will run and win “with God’s help”.
The statement was released after Jonathan Karl, chief correspondent for ABC News in Washington, publish on the social network X Trump’s statements on the topic. “I don’t know. He’s had an extraordinary career. Does he want to continue?”wrote the journalist when reproducing the American president’s speech.
The election will be the first held since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, an episode considered the biggest security failure in Israel’s history and which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has governed the country since December 2022 at the head of the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history. Study released on June 9th by Israel Democracy Institute pointed out that 61% of Israelis believe that the prime minister should not run for a new term. Opinion polls have also indicated difficulties for his coalition to achieve a majority in Congress. Here is the search (441 – kB).
The prime minister will contest the election while continuing to face corruption allegations, which he denies. Even before the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, his government was already facing large demonstrations of opposition.
The confirmation of the candidacy comes amid a relationship marked by rapprochements and tensions between Netanyahu and Trump. The US president has been pressuring Israel to reduce military operations in Lebanon while seeking progress in negotiations involving Iran. Last week, during a telephone conversation, although he claimed to maintain a good relationship with the Israeli prime minister.
