Netanyahu says a future US president could be 'very hostile' to Israel and vows to bring down Iran's government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday 18 October that a future US president could be “very hostile to Israel”, and said Israel must build alliances beyond the United States, The Times of Israel, Ynetnews and PTI reported. He was presenting an updated national security doctrine to reporters in Jerusalem, nine days before Israel’s 27 October election.

“In two years, a president — male or female — could come to power in Washington who is very hostile to Israel,” Mr Netanyahu said, according to The Times of Israel. He named India and Latin American countries as possible partners.

On Iran, he said: “The regime must fall, and I will bring it down.” He said his plan was “to bring about the fall of the regime” and that this was “the directive I have given all the security agencies”, The Times of Israel and Ynetnews reported. Asked whether Israel could act without Washington’s backing, he said: “insofar as it is necessary, we will also act independently.”

He said Israel would invest about 450 billion shekels (about $US145 billion) in security, including more domestic weapons production, The Times of Israel reported.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot called the two-page doctrine “hollow” and “full of slogans”, and former prime minister Yair Lapid called it “superficial”, Ynetnews and Al Jazeera reported.

Background

Israel and Iran fought direct military campaigns in 2025 and 2026, The Times of Israel reported. US President Donald Trump endorsed Mr Netanyahu’s re-election hours after the briefing (our report); his term ends in January 2029. For Iran’s latest warning to Washington, see this report.