US President Donald Trump's backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected to help in the election and, given Israeli attitudes toward outside input, may even work against Bibi.

The endorsement will have no lasting effect on the US-Israel relationship.

It marks the first time in Israeli history that a US president has openly endorsed a candidate in an Israeli election.

Earlier complaints about alleged US involvement in the 1999 and 2001 elections surfaced when presidents less favorable to Bibi held office, yet nothing was proven or publicly confirmed.

This endorsement carries little weight for several reasons.

Above all, Israelis dislike being told how to vote by those living abroad, no matter their position or profile.

Locally, Israelis are known for offering direct advice to strangers as part of everyday communication.

Advice from overseas on security or global matters, however, often raises tensions and meets resistance.

Ilana Shpaizman, a senior lecturer in the Political Studies Department at Bar-Ilan University, noted in remarks shared by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that she does not expect any shift in views.

Netanyahu may claim it proves his leadership and ties to Trump, yet his supporters already accept that and require no further confirmation, she said.

Shpaizman added that Trump compelled Netanyahu to accept the Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreement.

Trump also directs policy on Iran, so opponents see no value in the endorsement either.

Israel's Trust in Trump Declines

Trump's standing in Israel has fallen sharply since the Iran conflict began. Recent surveys by the Israel Democracy Institute show his popularity dropped after he halted the war without fully removing threats to Israel.

One poll found public confidence in Trump regarding Israel's security fell from about 70 percent earlier this year to 42 percent last month.

Claims that Israel-US ties will stay strong only while a Netanyahu-Trump partnership lasts are misleading on their face.

The relationship rests on mutual benefit. It may vary slightly between administrations, but the foundation stays firm due to shared needs and gains.

The US provides Israel with arms, yet much of the underlying technology comes from Israeli firms such as Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Elbit Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries.

Outside active US wars, Israel often serves as the main testing site for American weapons systems.

Beyond defense, US government figures indicate Israeli and Israeli-owned companies invest more than 24 billion dollars each year in the United States. From 2015 to 2024, total Israeli investment in the US topped 318 billion dollars. Israeli spending on US commercial real estate reached 1.06 billion dollars in 2025, ranking Israel eighth among foreign investors in that sector.

Israeli-founded and Israeli-owned companies also create jobs in the US, supporting more than 250,000 positions in states including New York, Florida, California, and Massachusetts.

Nearly 600 Israeli-founded companies operate in New York City, generating over 27,000 direct local jobs and many more indirect roles.

Whatever the outcome of next week's elections, these ties of mutual reliance will persist because they are driven by sales, investments, and profits rather than politics.

In the end, the US-Israel partnership is robust enough to handle political shifts in either nation. While the endorsement may please Netanyahu, it is unlikely to increase votes and could discourage some potential backers.

Trump's support aside, the current relationship is well captured by Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who wrote in National Review this week that securing the next American century requires the two countries to form a partnership centered on technology and defense innovation. A reset in the US-Israel relationship is needed, not because Israel erred, but because Israel is vital to America and too many Americans fail to see why. Point made!

The writer, a 42-year resident of Jerusalem, is a former national president of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, a past chairperson of the board of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and a board member of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce.