In a stunning rebuke that sent shockwaves through international diplomatic circles, former US President Donald Trump has publicly accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of weakness and a catastrophic failure to act.
The extraordinary comments, made in a lengthy interview with Israeli media outlet Israel Hayom, reveal a dramatic fracture in one of the most consequential alliances of Trump's presidency. The ex-commander-in-chief did not hold back, expressing profound disappointment in his once-close ally.
'He Let Us Down': The Core of Trump's Accusation
At the heart of Trump's grievance is a specific incident involving Iran. The former president claimed that his administration provided Israeli intelligence services with critical, actionable information about an impending Iranian attack.
"We had information that something was going to happen," Trump stated, implying the intelligence was precise and timely. According to his account, the US expected Israel to launch a pre-emptive strike based on this intelligence. However, Netanyahu's government allegedly hesitated, a move Trump interpreted as a sign of weakness.
"I will never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down," Trump declared, using the Israeli leader's nickname. "That was a very terrible thing."
The Fallout of a Fractured 'Bromance'
The interview lays bare the complete deterioration of a relationship once touted as an unbreakable "bromance." Trump's language suggests a deep sense of personal betrayal that goes beyond political disagreement.
This public airing of grievances is particularly explosive given the highly sensitive nature of intelligence sharing between the two nations. Experts suggest that such candid criticism from a former US president about a sitting Israeli PM is virtually unprecedented and could have lasting implications for the US-Israel intelligence partnership.
A Relationship Defined by Highs and Lows
Trump's presidency was marked by several landmark decisions favouring Netanyahu's government, including:
- The controversial move of the US embassy to Jerusalem.
- Recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
- Brokering the Abraham Accords to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
Despite these historic wins, Trump's latest comments suggest that a single perceived failure of action overshadowed all these achievements in his view, permanently damaging their personal and political rapport.
The full implications of this public rift remain to be seen, but it undoubtedly casts a long shadow over Middle Eastern diplomacy and the future of one of the world's most watched international relationships.
