Prime Minister Netanyahu made the remarks at a ceremony Wednesday evening, according to reports. The statement follows his earlier comments at the burial ceremony for Herzl's grandparents, where he similarly stressed that Israel's sovereignty is not up for discussion, as The Zioneer reported.
At a ceremony Wednesday evening for the reburial of Theodor Herzl's grandparents, Prime Minister Netanyahu called President Trump "our greatest friend" while reiterating that Israel's sovereignty is not negotiable. According to reports at 17:50 Jerusalem, the full quote added: "Trump is our greatest friend, but I want to clarify — Israel's existence is not subject to negotiation. With or without a deal, we will do everything necessary to secure our future."
The Zioneer first reported on the ceremony at 17:43 Jerusalem, noting that Netanyahu praised Trump as a "great friend" while stressing Israel's red lines. The current report provides the direct quote, expanding on the earlier coverage. The remarks build on a series of statements by Netanyahu during the ongoing diplomatic friction with the US over Iran. As The Zioneer reported on June 11, Netanyahu clarified that Israel is not a party to the emerging US-Iran MOU, while praising Trump's commitment to preventing a nuclear Iran. On June 15, Netanyahu told Channel 14, "Trump is US president, I am Israel's prime minister — I stand up for our interests."
The prime minister's remarks come against a backdrop of public tension between the two leaders. President Trump has called Netanyahu a "very difficult guy" (The Zioneer, June 15) and a "fighter" (The Zioneer, June 20), while also sharing doubts about his re-election. The strained relationship has been largely driven by the US-led memorandum of understanding with Iran, which Israel opposes. Netanyahu's latest statement reaffirms Jerusalem's position that Israeli security is not subject to external agreements.
The broader US-Iran nuclear negotiations continue, and the impact of the prime minister's remarks on the diplomatic process remains to be seen. No further details on the ceremony or additional remarks have been reported.
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