President Trump told Fox News that he does not need Prime Minister Netanyahu to inform him about the excavation at the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, adding that Netanyahu is raising the issue because he wants Trump to 'stay involved,' according to the Fox News interview.
President Trump told Fox News at 17:20 Jerusalem that Prime Minister Netanyahu is raising the issue of the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site because he wants Trump to 'stay involved.' The remark is the latest in a series of Trump comments on the subject within two hours.
The first reports at 15:51 Jerusalem had Trump stating he does not need Netanyahu to brief him on Mount Makosh and threatening to take it down if no deal is reached. At 15:58, Trump said Netanyahu should have raised the matter privately rather than 'tell the world,' as The Zioneer reported. At 17:10, Trump again said he does not need Netanyahu's briefing on the site and warned the U.S. would take down the mountain without difficulty.
The exchange occurs against the backdrop of ongoing friction between Washington and Jerusalem over the Iranian nuclear deal and Israeli military operations. Trump has previously told the Financial Times that Netanyahu 'will have to accept' an American deal with Iran, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump complained to aides that Netanyahu 'wants to bomb everyone.' The Zioneer has also reported on Trump's cautious stance regarding Israeli operations in Lebanon.
The specific reference to excavation, construction vehicles, and fortifications at the site suggests ongoing Israeli activity, though additional details were not provided in the Fox News segment.
5 developments
- DevelopingTrump on Fox News: Netanyahu should have raised Mount Pikaks privately, not 'tell the world'
- DevelopingNY Post: Netanyahu to present Trump evidence Iran moved centrifuges into Mount Makosh nuclear site
- DevelopingTrump escalates Mount Makosh threat: 'We will reach the site, tell Iran to prepare'
- StrongTrump says 'good talks' with Iran, downplays Mount Makosh, warns of 'complete mission' if no deal
Source and signal
- Open-source intake