Relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are strained due to the war in Lebanon and a possible deal with Iran. Harsh statements from the Trump administration and leaked phone call claims are raising questions about the future of the historic alliance between the two allies.
In its peace talks with the US, Iran has put forward the demand that Israel halt its war in southern Lebanon as a key condition, pitting Washington against Tel Aviv. This demand is deepening the rift between the two countries.
In a phone call leaked last month and not denied by the White House, Trump allegedly described Netanyahu as "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."
Speaking 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 Rises Within the MAGA Movement
Recent polls in the US show declining public support for Israel, while serious doubts have also emerged within Trump's right-wing populist "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. Prominent figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene are criticizing US support for Israel.
Former Fox TV host and Trump ally Tucker Carlson suggested in a podcast at the end of June that Trump had finally realized Israel is the biggest threat to his administration. Carlson accused Israel of trying to "persuade, deceive, and threaten" Trump into attacking Iran in order to start a war against Lebanon.
Expert Assessments
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 to 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 also 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 have been leaked, humiliating and discrediting them. "Israel has never been in such an unpopular position with Congress or the public," Miller said.
US Pressure in Israeli Politics
Israeli politicians, aware of the importance of US diplomatic and military support, are criticizing Netanyahu ahead of the upcoming election over the tension with the US. Former prime minister and opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a social media post, "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 managing 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."
Full Break Not Expected
Despite all the tension, there is no sign that the Trump administration intends to completely sever relations with Israel. Aaron David Miller assessed, "If Trump is going to apply serious pressure on Israel, he would need to be pursuing a major breakthrough that makes him look good." However, he noted that with no breakthrough in sight in Lebanon, Gaza, or Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization in the near term, sustained US pressure also seems unlikely for now.
