Shadi’s take on Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli election
October 27, 2026
Analysis: Published on October 26, 2026 (for the October 27 edition of the UAE’s The National), Shadi Ghanim’s editorial cartoon visually depicts Donald Trump extending a heavy-handed political endorsement as a lifeline to an embattled Benjamin Netanyahu as Israelis head to the ballot box. From a Middle Eastern strategic perspective, the illustration highlights how Israeli domestic leadership contests remain tightly entangled with U.S. partisan calculations despite deep regional war fatigue. The visual commentary reinforces the perception across the Arab world that Washington’s unconditional backing insulates Israeli leadership from accountability for prolonged regional military campaigns.