Prime Minister Netanyahu said in an ABC News interview Thursday morning that President Trump is 'the senior partner' and the United States is 'the United States of America, let's not forget that,' while Netanyahu is the 'junior partner.' However, he added: 'But I am the prime minister of Israel, and when I need to stand up for the interests of my country and the security of my country, I do so.' The remarks come amid ongoing public exchanges between the two leaders over the US-Israel relationship and the Iran deal.
Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged President Trump as the 'senior partner' in the US-Israel relationship during an interview with ABC News broadcast Thursday morning, while firmly asserting his own role in defending Israeli interests.
Netanyahu's statement echoes and reframes previous public exchanges between the two leaders. In recent weeks, the relationship has been characterized by a series of direct and indirect statements. Trump had previously described the US as 'the big partner' and Israel as 'the very small partner,' as reported by The Zioneer. Netanyahu responded at the time by telling Channel 14 that while Trump is the US president, he is Israel's prime minister and stands up for its interests. The ABC interview represents the first time Netanyahu has publicly used the term 'junior partner' himself.
The interview also comes against the backdrop of the emerging US-Iran nuclear memorandum of understanding, to which Israel has repeatedly stated it is not a party. Netanyahu has previously praised Trump's commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran while reserving Israel's right to act independently on security matters. The latest remarks suggest Netanyahu is seeking to balance deference to the American administration with a clear red line on Israeli sovereignty and security.
2 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: Trump is US president, I am Israel's PM — I stand up for our interests
- DevelopingTrump says he gets along 'well' with Netanyahu but sometimes disagrees and makes it clear
- DevelopingNetanyahu denies strained relationship with Trump, says 'the president has his way of expressing things'
- DevelopingNetanyahu and Trump ‘fully coordinated’ amid US strikes on Iran, PM's office source says
Source and signal
- Open-source intake