Source: Fortune.com
Summary
President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming credit for Israel’s existence and describing him as “crazy”. This comes as Trump tries to finalize a deal to end the war with Iran. Netanyahu has frustrated all four US presidents he has worked with, but Trump’s comments are unusually public. The tension arises as Trump criticizes recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which could jeopardize negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Trump’s comments on Netanyahu are a departure from the usual bipartisan consensus on supporting Israel. Netanyahu has long been a thorn in the side of US presidents, but Trump’s public criticism is unusual. The comments come as Trump faces political blowback at home over the war, which has driven up gasoline prices. Trump’s criticism of Netanyahu may be an attempt to appeal to Israel critics, but it has drawn swift criticism from left-leaning groups.
Netanyahu’s existence is now contingent on Trump, a narrative that is deeply offensive to many Jews.
Author: Evan Null
