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Herzog Accuses Netanyahu of Interfering in U.S. Election

Israel’s opposition leader, Knesset Member Isaac Herzog, on Monday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disavow his wealthy allies who are supporting Donald Trump for president if he claims impartiality.

“Recently there have again been reports of Israeli leaders interfering in the elections through overseas proxies,” Herzog said at the start of the Zionist Union’s faction meeting in Jerusalem. “I call on Netanyahu to instruct those close to him to make sure no damage is done.”

Las Vegas casino mogul  Sheldon Adelson, who has donated tens of millions to the Trump campaign, is a close ally of the prime minister.

On Monday, it was reported that Trump is considering appointing Newt Gingrich, a close friend of Adelson, as Secretary of State.

Netanyahu, for his part, reiterated his neutral stance on the U.S. election. “Whatever the result, the relationship between Israel and the US will remain strong and steadfast,” he said. ““A recent Gallup poll showed that the US support for Israel gets stronger and stronger ever year. I’ll repeat what I said in Congress last year: Israel has no better friend than the US and the US has no better friend than Israel.”

“These relations are based first of all on shared values of liberty, democracy and progress. When looking at the region around us, we unsteady how unique these values are,” he added.

Meanwhile, campaigning in Sarasota, Florida Monday morning, Trump promised to work “very closely” with Israel if elected as president on Tuesday.

“We have to stand strong with the state of Israel in their fight against Islamic terrorism,” Trump said. “Barack Obama was the worst thing that ever happened to Israel. The worst thing that ever happened to Israel. Barack Obama was a disaster for Israel.”

The Republican presidential nominee pointed to the Iran deal, which he said made the Iranians rich and “gave them a direct path right to nuclear weapons.”

“We will be working with Israel very closely; very, very closely,” Trump pledged.

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