AI-generated illustration

The United States is pressuring Israel to form a broad "national unity government" after elections scheduled for 27 October, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported, claiming the Trump administration has been quietly pursuing a wide-ranging diplomatic initiative in the Middle East.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee rejected the account, saying on the social media platform X that "this is absolutely not true" and that Washington is not trying to manipulate Israel's elections or dictate terms to the prime minister.

What the report claims

According to Israel Hayom, the reported initiative envisions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remaining in office for a short period after the vote and then stepping down, in return for an expansion of the Abraham Accords. The proposal would see a government led by Netanyahu's Likud party and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, with Netanyahu staying in power for up to two years to work on stability before leaving politics.

The report said Washington has raised the idea of a broad-based Israeli government capable of taking major diplomatic decisions with various actors in the Middle East. A senior US official was quoted as saying the message had been passed to senior Israeli political figures.

Huckabee's meetings and the Saudi dimension

Ambassador Huckabee is reported to have met numerous senior party leaders, among them Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot. The newspaper claimed the Trump administration would welcome a broad Israeli government free of extremist elements.

The report also said President Donald Trump has been trying to persuade Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords through offers that include an F-35 sale and the construction of a civilian nuclear facility. Riyadh, it was claimed, has tied such a move to a change of government in Israel. Diplomatic officials quoted in the report described the proposal as an opportunity for strategic change in the Middle East that could dissipate growing anti-Israel sentiment around the world.

Conditions attributed to Eisenkot

Eisenkot is expected to set out several conditions for joining a coalition, the report said. It listed them as a firm commitment that Netanyahu will leave office as planned, repeal of the laws passed during the judicial reform, a restructuring of the checks and balances within Israeli democracy, and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the events of 7 October.

US ambassador rejects the account

Huckabee denied the Israel Hayom report, saying "this is absolutely not true." Writing on his account on X, the US-based social media platform, Huckabee said: "The US government is not trying to manipulate Israel's elections or tell the Israeli prime minister what to do."

Key takeaways

• Israel Hayom reported that the Trump administration is pressing for a broad Israeli unity government after the 27 October elections.
• The reported plan would see Netanyahu leave office after up to two years, with a government led by Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party.
• Saudi Arabia is said to have linked joining the Abraham Accords to a change of government in Israel.
• Ambassador Mike Huckabee denied the report, saying Washington is not trying to manipulate Israel's elections.