US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli voters to re-elect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as an “outstanding Warrior Prime Minister” ahead of the country’s legislative election.

Trump made the appeal on Sunday through his Truth Social platform, citing the US-Israel war against Iran as an example of the two countries “winning together”.

“When you go to the Polls please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding Warrior Prime Minister,” Trump wrote, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

His endorsement came as Netanyahu faced a strong challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who pledged to unite a deeply divided Israeli society and restore public confidence in the country’s leadership.

According to Channels Television, opinion polls had placed Netanyahu and Eisenkot neck and neck before restrictions on new polling took effect ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Eisenkot Promises Unity and Change

Eisenkot held his final major campaign rally on Sunday, promising to bridge divisions within Israeli society and prioritise national security and economic stability.

“Our goal is not for one side to defeat the other. That is not our way,” he told hundreds of supporters.

“We will work to bring all Israelis together again, those who voted for us and those who did not.”

The former military chief has presented himself as an alternative to Netanyahu, whose long political career has been marked by persistent divisions and criticism over his handling of national security.

Eisenkot also pledged to take responsibility for both successes and failures, while appealing to undecided voters and supporters of Netanyahu’s Likud party to back his campaign.

“Deep down, you too know that Israel cannot go on like this,” he said. “Israel needs change.”

Some supporters have been drawn to Eisenkot’s reputation for directness and his promise to restore trust in government.

Yael Shkedi, a 66-year-old jewellery maker who attended his rally, described him as someone she could trust amid the country’s political turmoil.

Eisenkot has also promised a state commission of inquiry into the security failures that preceded Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Netanyahu Focuses on Iran Threat

Netanyahu has made national security a central theme of his campaign, highlighting his opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme and the military campaign launched against the Islamic Republic alongside Trump.

He has also campaigned against the creation of a Palestinian state, with campaign posters carrying the slogan “Either the Right or Palestine”.

Speaking on Israeli television after Eisenkot’s rally, Netanyahu accused his rival and his allies of supporting a Palestinian state, which he described as “a catastrophe for Israel”.

“They will not destroy Iran’s nuclear programme,” Netanyahu said, insisting that his government had completed most of the work required to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“Who is going to do it? Eisenkot and the Muslim Brotherhood? No. Only I can do it,” he added.

Eisenkot has said he opposes a Palestinian state but has pledged to take action against extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank who attack Palestinians.

The prime minister also shared an AI-generated image depicting a mushroom cloud engulfing Tel Aviv, alongside a message portraying Iran as an existential threat to Israel.

Eisenkot subsequently accused Netanyahu of using the Iranian threat for political advantage, arguing that the prime minister had failed to achieve the war objectives he had set.

Opposition Accuses Netanyahu of Losing Grip

Longtime opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has pledged to join a coalition with Eisenkot, also criticised Netanyahu’s handling of the campaign.

Lapid questioned the prime minister’s messaging on US security assistance, economic sanctions and the Iranian threat, arguing that his statements demonstrated a loss of political judgement.

“This man has lost his grip. We absolutely must send him home,” Lapid wrote on X.

Netanyahu, who has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics for decades, is also facing trial on corruption charges, which he denies.

The election is expected to test whether his security-focused campaign and Trump’s endorsement can secure him another term or whether voters will favour Eisenkot’s promise of political change and national unity.