Relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are strained due to the war in Lebanon and a potential deal with Iran. Tough statements from the Trump administration and leaked phone call allegations raise questions about the future of the historic alliance between the two allies.
In its peace talks with the US, Iran has made the cessation of Israel's war in southern Lebanon a key demand, pitting Washington against Tel Aviv. This demand deepens the discord between the two countries.
In a phone call leaked last month, which the White House did not deny, Trump allegedly called Netanyahu 'crazy' and accused him of ingratitude. According to the report, Trump said, 'Now everyone hates you. That's why everyone hates Israel.'
In an interview with Axios last week, Trump acknowledged the tension in the relationship, saying Netanyahu 'knows who the boss is.'
At a press conference in June, Vice President JD Vance described Trump as the only world leader currently sympathetic to Israel. Vance warned Israeli ministers about their criticism of the US-Iran deal, reminding them that 'two-thirds of the defensive weapons protecting their homeland were built by American hands and paid for with American taxpayer money.'
Criticism Grows Within the MAGA Movement
Recent polls in the US show declining public support for Israel, and serious doubts have emerged within Trump's right-wing populist 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) movement. Prominent movement figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene criticize US support for Israel.
Former Fox TV host and Trump ally Tucker Carlson suggested in a podcast in late June that Trump finally realized he was the biggest threat to Israel's management. Carlson accused Israel of trying to 'persuade, deceive and threaten' Trump into attacking Iran in order to start a war in Lebanon.
Assessments from Experts
Daniel Byman, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a professor at Georgetown University, told Al Jazeera that Trump has significant room for maneuver on Israel. 'I believe President Trump has considerable flexibility,' Byman said, stressing that although Republicans are traditionally the most pro-Israel party, Trump can carry his loyal base with him, and many Democrats are critical of Israel.
Former American diplomat Aaron David Miller said no US president or vice president has spoken like the current administration, and that meetings with Israeli counterparts were leaked to humiliate and discredit them. 'Israel has never been so unpopular in Congress or with the public,' Miller said.
US Pressure on Israeli Politics
Aware of the importance of US diplomatic and military support, Israeli politicians are criticizing Netanyahu for the tension with the US ahead of the upcoming election. Former prime minister and opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on social media, 'If we don't change the government quickly, Israel's foreign relations will be erased.'
Former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot also accused Netanyahu of mismanaging the situation so badly that he forced Trump to make a deal with Iran. Israeli political analyst Nimrod Flaschenberg told Al Jazeera, 'The US is the hinge that guarantees Israel's place in the world. The US is everything for Israel: defense, technology, diplomatic posture.'
No Complete Breakup Expected
Despite all the tension, there is no indication that the Trump administration intends to completely sever relations with Israel. Aaron David Miller assessed, 'If Trump is going to put serious pressure on Israel, he needs to be pursuing a major breakthrough that makes him look good.' However, he noted that since no breakthrough seems imminent—neither in Lebanon, Gaza nor in Israel-Saudi normalization—sustained US pressure currently appears unlikely.
