US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the country’s parliamentary election scheduled for next week, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The undisclosed meeting came a day after US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu, describing him as a “great warrior” prime minister and expressing his full support for the Israeli leader’s bid for re-election.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Netanyahu had grown stronger despite facing domestic and international pressure.
However, US Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu, saying he had no intention of interfering in Israel’s election.
Speaking to the media outlet TooWay on Monday, Vance said his focus was on the upcoming US midterm elections rather than Israel’s domestic politics.
“I am neither against him nor endorsing him,” Vance said, adding that he did not want to get involved in the Israeli election.
The election, scheduled for October 27, will be Israel’s first national election since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
The timing of Hegseth’s visit, following Trump’s public endorsement, places the meeting in the spotlight as Netanyahu faces a crucial electoral contest.
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