Several senior advisers to US President Donald Trump believe an Israeli government without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be easier to work with on regional priorities, despite Trump's public endorsement of the Israeli leader ahead of Tuesday's election, Axios reported.
The report said dissatisfaction with Netanyahu has grown within Trump's inner circle over the past six months, particularly following the war with Iran and disagreements over Washington's broader Middle East agenda.
Vice President JD Vance is among senior officials who have become disillusioned with Netanyahu, with concerns that the Israeli premier's pre-war assessments to the White House were mistaken.
Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu when questioned about the election, saying Trump's position was what mattered.
Other senior officials have also raised concerns over Israel's policies in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, including Netanyahu's reluctance to advance Trump's Gaza peace plan and curb illegal Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians.
Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have expressed frustration over delays in implementing the Gaza plan, while envoy Tom Barrack has concerns about Israeli attacks in Syria.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's team believes Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon's government.
Despite the tensions, Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, suggesting his defeat could have consequences for US-Israel relations.
Some advisers are said to believe a new Israeli government without Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners could offer Washington greater flexibility in pursuing diplomatic agreements across the region.
Netanyahu has claimed that his country must prepare for the end of US military assistance worth tens of billions of dollars, calling the prospect "only a matter of time", adding Israel may need to develop an alternative digital economy to circumvent rising international sanctions.
Speaking just days before hard-fought elections, Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and ongoing corruption proceedings, told Channel 10 that he had ordered preparations for potential economic and banking sanctions, including exploring alternative financial technologies.
