Trump’s ‘crazy’ rebuke undercuts Netanyahu at a critical moment
Key takeaways
- Add ARY News on Google AAResize JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON: Benjamin Netanyahu has long portrayed himself to the Israeli public as being uniquely adept in dealing with Donald Trump, capable of winning and sustaining the U.S.
- Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the call was among the most heated the premier has had with Trump.
- The U.S. website Axios broke news of the call on Monday, saying Trump had angrily confronted Netanyahu over Israeli threats to resume air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. “Everybody hates you now.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON: Benjamin Netanyahu has long portrayed himself to the Israeli public as being uniquely adept in dealing with Donald Trump, capable of winning and sustaining the U.S. president’s backing.
But an acrimonious phone call this week where the president called the prime minister “fucking crazy”, first leaked to the media and later publicly confirmed by Trump himself, laid bare the strains that have at times emerged between the two leaders.
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the call was among the most heated the premier has had with Trump. One of the officials said the leak had damaged Netanyahu politically ahead of this year’s national election.