Axios: Trump calls Netanyahu ‘his own worst enemy’ as election nears

According to Axios, US President Donald Trump recently referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 'his own worst enemy' in conversations with associates. The remark comes as Netanyahu seeks a formal endorsement from the White House ahead of the October 27 election. Sources close to the president suggest that despite personal rapport, Trump is frustrated with Netanyahu's policies regarding Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. During Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington, Trump questioned him on his polling prospects, which reportedly led to a hesitant response from the Prime Minister and an interjection from his aides claiming he is 'winning.' However, most polls show Netanyahu's Likud party in a tight race with Gadi Eisenkot's 'Yashar' party, with the Prime Minister's coalition bloc struggling to secure a clear path to forming a government. Meanwhile, opposition leaders including Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid remain concerned that Trump may eventually endorse Netanyahu and have reportedly sent back-channel messages urging the president to remain neutral. In a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated that Israel would reject the 'Board of Peace' roadmap for Gaza disarmament, asserting that Israel knows how to stand its ground even against its 'very best friends' when necessary.