World
In pitch for alliance, Netanyahu hails ‘once-in-a-lifetime historic opportunity’ to eliminate Iranian threat with Trump's help
By: Hindustan Times World
Published: 28 October 2026
Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk
<p>Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the ‘once-in-a-lifetime historic opportunity’ to eliminate the ‘existential Iranian threat’ together with US President Donald Trump. He was speaking on October 27 as the exit polls indicated a deadlock with former military chief and his main political challenger Gadi Eisenkot.</p>
<p>Israeli Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu pitched for an alliance with the US as exit polls indicated a tight race. (REUTERS)Israel and the US have been engaged in a conflict with Iran since February 2026 after joint strikes across the country. Netanyahu had reportedly also sought strikes ahead of the elections, but received pushback from the military leadership of Israel.</p>
<p>“The mission is not over — together with President Trump, we will eliminate the threat,” Netanyahu reiterated in a pitch for alliance. Notably, Trump had endorsed Netanyahu is a Truth Social post, days before the election and urged people to re-elect who he called an ‘outstanding warrior’.</p>
<p>Speaking to reporters, Netanyahu also batted for a ‘national right-wing government’ and said that the right-wing bloc has a "significant, decisive majority" among Jewish voters and those who support a Jewish state. As per Israeli media, the prime minister opposed the formation of a government dependent on Arab parties, which he described as anti-Zionist.</p>
<p>“We must not form a government that relies on anti-Zionist Arab parties,” he said, alleging that some parties supported Hamas and called Israeli soldiers "murderers and war criminals."</p>
<p>Netanyahu criticized politicians and media commentators for talking about the possibility of an Arab alliance, and questioned their willingness to consider cooperation with such parties. Netanyahu accused these parties of opposing Israel's existence and supporting the country's enemies.</p>
<p>"What level have we reached that politicians on the various news channels are talking about that, are normalizing that, and justifying that?" he said.</p>
<p>Referring to the opposing parties, Netanyahu named the Islamic Movement and the Joint List, and Balad, calling them anti-Zionist, and rejecting the possibility of an alliance with them. "It is forbidden, and it should never actually take shape," he said. He further said “The majority, the Zionist Jewish majority, must join forces. They must unite.” He also hailed Likud as the largest party in Israel.</p>
<p>As per the latest figures Pollster Direct Polls projected 55 seats for the Netanyahu bloc, 49 for the Gadi Eisenkot led opposition bloc and 16 for the Arab parties. Kan 11, an Israeli state-owned, free-to-air television channel, projected that the pro-Netanyahu bloc and the anti-Netanyahu bloc each hold 51 seats.</p>
<p>Shuvrajit has over seven years of experience covering US, India, and world news. An English Literature postgraduate from Jadavpur University, Shuvrajit started off covering entertainment, gaming and all things pop culture. There were brief periods away from the media industry, with short stints in content marketing, ed-tech and academic editing. However, the newsroom beckoned and over the last few jobs, Shuvrajit has exceedingly focused on team functioning as well, including tracking news and assigning tasks, working on everyday breaking news, framing detailed coverage plans, and creating immersive and data-driven stories. In his time as a digital journalist, he has covered a Lok Sabha election, multiple state elections, Union Budgets and award ceremonies. He has also helped in planning content for company event panels in the past. For work, Shuvrajit enjoys dabbling with data visualization, editing tools, and AI chatbots and attempts to incorporate AI workflows in everyday tasks. He is deeply interested in geopolitics, sports, films and music. Prompting is a new fascination for Shuvrajit now. Apart from that, he can be found doom-scrolling, sharing memes, or cheering on his favorite football team.Read More</p>
