The Israeli Broadcasting Authority revealed on Thursday that a secret meeting took place between US Ambassador Mike Hakabi and opposition "Yesh Atid" party leader Gadi Eizenkot, just days before the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27. The official authority stated that the meeting was held in recent days, marking the first and only encounter between Hakabi and Eizenkot, without disclosing the location or time of the meeting.
The authority quoted a source familiar with the details of the previously unannounced meeting, stating that it covered security issues, including tensions in the occupied West Bank and settler violence, as well as the situation in the Gaza Strip. No official announcement regarding the meeting was issued by the US Ambassador or Eizenkot's office, while the "Yesh Atid" party declined to comment.
In a related development, the Broadcasting Authority revealed that another meeting, previously scheduled between Hakabi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was canceled at the last minute. A source claimed that Netanyahu was the one who canceled the meeting, without specifying the reasons, noting that no new date has been set.
The revelation of these two meetings comes ahead of the Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, amid anticipation regarding the US stance on the electoral competition. Netanyahu has long boasted of his relationship with US President Donald Trump, who praised him repeatedly in recent years. As of Thursday, Trump had not announced his support for either Netanyahu or Eizenkot in the upcoming elections.
A poll published by Channel 12 on Monday showed the opposition camp led by Netanyahu gaining 67 seats out of 120 in the Knesset, compared to 49 seats for the ruling coalition, with at least 61 seats required to form a government. The poll also showed "Yesh Atid" led by Eizenkot taking the lead with 23 seats, compared to 20 for Netanyahu's "Likud" party.
In a question regarding the most suitable candidate for the premiership, Eizenkot led Netanyahu with 45 percent compared to 35 percent.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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