Israeli supporters of US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump have opened a campaign office in the occupied West Bank, saying they hope to get as many American expatriates as possible to cast an absentee ballot for their candidate.
There are about 300,000 US citizens in Israel, according to the non-profit group Republican Overseas Israel, which opened the office in the Jewish settlement Karnei Shomron yesterday. It estimates as many as 80,000 of them live in the West Bank, though it is not clear how many are eligible voters.
The initiative has no official ties to the Trump campaign or the Republican National Committee (RNC), and the Israeli group opened the West Bank office, and a handful of others throughout Israel, with its own funds, said co-chairman Marc Zell.
“We are however in close coordination with the Trump campaign and RNC to the extent that it’s feasible,” said Zell.
A poll of Jewish Israelis conducted in May found 40 per cent of respondents backed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and 31 per cent supported Trump. The poll did not specify whether those who responded were eligible to vote in the US election.
Trump has accused the administration of President Barack Obama of lacklustre support for Israel. He has also rejected last year’s nuclear deal with Iran and has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.
The new office in the West Bank will be used as a “logistical jumping-off point” for outreach activity, Zell said.
The US presidential election takes place on 8 November.