At the meeting, the president reportedly let loose an expletive-laced tirade against Netanyahu.
Trump further claimed in that interview that he had prevented Netanyahu from applying Israeli sovereignty to portions of the West Bank.
“I got angry and I stopped it,” he said.
While Thursday’s report attempted to balance the significance of growing tensions between Washington and Jerusalem by quoting several officials playing down the rift, it’s clear that a major shift is taking place in the nature of the US-Israel relationship.
Observing the political trajectory of both the MAGA movement and the Democratic party makes clear that Israel should expect more open hostility from Washington in the near future. The conventional wisdom amongst Israeli ministers and lawmakers is that the relationship will turn sour after Trump leaves office, with more sober voices pointing out that even Trump should be viewed as a hostile foreign leader.
It therefore seems appropriate that Prime Minister Netanyahu announced this week that Israel will be taking steps to increase its military self-sufficiency by building out an independent local arms industry that will focus primarily on equipping Israel’s army.
Regardless of the flaws one might see in Netanyahu’s economic policies, economic philosophy, or general perception of Israel as being part of Western civilization, it’s clear that in this regard the prime minister is demonstrating admirable foresight and responsibility for the nation’s future.
The same could be said about the strike on Qatari soil last week, as it signaled to Israel’s neighbors in the region that the US is losing control over Jerusalem. The attack on Doha should have clarified to Arab states that if they’re genuinely interested in a relationship with Israel, it should be outside the framework of Trump’s Abraham Accords.
As much of the Israeli and Diaspora Jewish right has fallen into crisis mode following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the unearthing of deeply held anti-Jewish positions on the American right, Prime Minister Netanyahu is taking steps to ensure that Israel will have the ability to function as an independent nation outside the orbit of the US Empire.
