Netanyahu, Lapid court US support in Washington as Israeli election campaign heats up

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid are in Washington, ostensibly for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, but using the visit to court US support ahead of Israel's October 27 election. Lapid, speaking at the Atlantic Council, called for Netanyahu's retirement, accusing him of isolating Israel. Netanyahu met with President Trump on Tuesday, emphasizing their friendship. The visit highlights the deepening US-Israel tensions and the domestic political rivalry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid are in Washington, ostensibly to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch pro-Israel politician. However, both are using the visit to court US support ahead of Israel's October 27 election. Lapid, speaking at the Atlantic Council on Monday, called for Netanyahu's retirement, accusing him of isolating Israel by caving to extremists. He outlined a vision for a government led by Naftali Bennett as prime minister, with himself as foreign minister and Gadi Eizenkot as defense minister. Netanyahu met with President Trump on Tuesday, emphasizing their friendship and the need for continued support in the war against Iran. The visit underscores the deepening US-Israel tensions and the domestic political rivalry, with Lapid seeking to repair ties with Democrats and Netanyahu leaning on his relationship with Trump.