Egypt Daily News – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that “there are no disagreements between Israel and the U.S, Trump will not recognize a Palestinian state and is putting Israel’s security at risk.”
In response to reports of a rift between him and U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said: “I don’t think you will hear about a Palestinian state, and Trump does not intend to recognize one. Israel does not ask Washington for permission regarding its military plans in the Gaza Strip.” Speaking before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Netanyahu added: “I heard in the media that Trump and I are at odds. Ambassador Mike Huckabee (U.S. ambassador to Tel Aviv) succeeded in achieving his goal.”
He continued: “Trump and I speak every few days, and he himself said that we see things the same way. Therefore, I don’t think you will hear about a Palestinian state. The talk of division on TV channels has political motives.”
He stressed: “We did not ask for permission to strike the Houthis, nor do we seek approval for our military plans in Gaza. The Americans volunteered to intervene against the Houthis and said they would stop once the Houthi attacks cease.”
Rising tensions
American media sources have reported that tensions between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump have increased recently, particularly over how to address Iranian threats, the ongoing war in Gaza, and dealings with Yemen’s Houthi group. According to NBC News, citing sources, Trump “angered Netanyahu with public comments last week, which added further strain to their relationship.”
Two American officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats, and two other individuals familiar with the situation explained that Netanyahu “felt angered and frustrated when Trump said on Wednesday that he had not yet made a decision about allowing Iran to enrich uranium under the nuclear agreement his administration is currently negotiating.”
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer conveyed Netanyahu’s dissatisfaction to U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, during a meeting at the White House last Thursday, according to NBC.
On the other hand, Trump was reportedly frustrated by Netanyahu’s decision to launch a new military offensive in Gaza, which the U.S. president sees as conflicting with his plan to rebuild the region, according to another American official and a person familiar with the tensions.
Two sources said that Trump expressed in private meetings his belief that the new Israeli offensive in Gaza is a “wasted effort” because it would make the reconstruction process much more difficult.
