Opposition MK Avigdor Liberman attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Herzliya Conference, claiming that President Donald Trump views Netanyahu as a political liability and is keeping his distance. Liberman said the Americans conducted polls in Israel and the US, concluding that Netanyahu harms Trump's standing and midterm election prospects — adding that "Trump is making Netanyahu his whipping boy."
Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday at the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University, claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump views the prime minister as a burden and is deliberately maintaining distance. Liberman said the Americans conducted polls in both the U.S. and Israel and concluded that Netanyahu is harming Trump's standing and his chances in the midterm elections. He added that 'Trump is making Netanyahu his whipping boy — he wants to show that he is not with him.'
The remarks come amid a backdrop of reports that Trump has grown frustrated with Netanyahu over the escalation with Lebanon and the emerging U.S.-Iran nuclear deal — which Israeli officials have warned could come at the expense of Israeli security. As The Zioneer has previously reported, several Israeli analysts have assessed in recent weeks that Tehran is seeking to leverage Trump's prestige to pressure Israel into concessions, and that Netanyahu's campaign strategy reliant on Trump may be facing a setback as the president's popularity in Israel declines.
Liberman's statement is a notably forthright political attack from a rival politician, alleging that the prime minister's alliance with Trump has become a weakness rather than an asset. The claim of U.S.-commissioned polling is not independently verified, and Liberman did not provide direct evidence. The Herzliya Conference is a major Israeli policy event, and Liberman's comments mark one of the most direct accusations of Netanyahu harming Israel's relationship with the White House.
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- DevelopingTrump says Netanyahu is a 'very tough man'; Iran claims ceasefire includes Lebanon
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