White House Exploring Options to Keep Netanyahu in Power Under Unity Government, Report Says

The White House is exploring ways to keep Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power under a proposed unity government, according to a report published by The Cradle on Oct. 27, 2026.

The report cited unnamed officials and stated that Netanyahu may remain in power with U.S. backing even if he loses the Israeli general election held that day. The report did not specify a timeline for the discussions or provide further details on the options under consideration [1].

The reported discussions come amid ongoing Israeli political negotiations and international attention on the Gaza war. Voting was underway across Israel on Oct. 27 amid what The Cradle described as the highest turnout in decades and attempts by Netanyahu to incite against Palestinian voters [1]. The report offered no official confirmation from Washington or Jerusalem.

The Cradle report did not identify the officials cited or provide specific details on the proposed U.S. role in a unity government framework. It stated that no final decision had been made and that the discussions were ongoing and could change [1].

Report Details and Attribution

According to The Cradle, the options under consideration include political support for Netanyahu as he faces coalition pressures. The report stated that a unity government framework would involve power-sharing arrangements among Israeli political factions. It did not specify what form that support might take or which factions would participate [1].

The report attributed its information to unnamed officials and provided no further sourcing. The White House has not publicly commented on the report.

The Cradle published the report on the day of the Israeli election, when voting was underway across the country. The report linked the timing of the discussions to the election outcome and the possibility that Netanyahu could lose [1].

Israeli Political Context

Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges, which he has denied. He has been charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, and he will testify three times a week despite the war, having previously received delays [2]. Israel has held multiple elections in recent years, and coalition governments have been unstable.

The report said unity government talks have followed domestic protests and the Gaza war. The Cradle report did not provide details on the current status of the protests.

The political instability has been compounded by the war in Gaza. The Cradle reported that the election took place amid high turnout and that Netanyahu had made attempts to incite against Palestinian voters [1]. The report did not elaborate on those attempts.

Reactions and Quotes

The Cradle report quoted an unnamed U.S. official as saying Washington seeks stability in the region. The report did not provide the official’s name or exact wording. Israeli opposition figures criticized external involvement in Israeli politics, according to statements cited in the report. The report did not identify the opposition figures or the full text of their statements [1].

A White House spokesperson previously said the U.S. supports democratic processes, according to public remarks. The spokesperson did not address the specific report. Netanyahu’s office has said it will not comment on unnamed reports, according to Israeli media.

The report’s reliance on unnamed officials and the absence of official confirmation from either Washington or Tel Aviv were noted in the report itself. The Cradle stated that the discussions were ongoing and could change [1].

Outlook

There was no official confirmation from Washington or Tel Aviv of the reported discussions. The outcome of the unity government talks remained uncertain, according to the report.

The election results and the formation of a new government remained pending. The White House and Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

The report left key questions unanswered, including the identities of the officials cited, the specific U.S. role under consideration, and the timeline for any decisions. It stated that no final decision had been made [1].

References

1. White House exploring ways to keep Netanyahu in power …. https://thecradle.co/articles-id/40752
2. In the years before Oct. 7, 2023, Prime Minister Benjamin …. https://www.facebook.com/frontline/posts/in-the-years-before-oct-7-2023-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-was-embroiled-i/1487534399896704/