Trump Rebuked by Israeli Official After Netanyahu Remarks: 'Shameful'
By: Aila Slisco (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Former President Donald Trump's recent remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been denounced as "shameful" by Israel's top communications official.
During a speech Wednesday night in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump blasted the Israeli government for not being "ready" for Saturday's surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, while seemingly praising Lebanese Islamist militant group Hezbollah for being "very smart" after it launched a missile attack on Israel. Additionally, he referred to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as a "jerk."
The ex-president also said he would "never forget" that Netanyahu "let us down" by trying "to take credit for" the January 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
On Thursday, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi denounced Trump's remarks, reportedly calling out the former president for spreading what he characterized as anti-Israel "propaganda," while also suggesting that Israel "obviously" cannot rely on Trump as an ally.
Former President Donald Trump is pictured Saturday on the stump in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. An Israeli official on Thursday called Trump "shameful" for criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and praising Islamist militant group Hezbollah amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Scott Olson
"[It is] shameful that a man like that, a former US president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel's fighters and its citizens," Karhi told Israel's Channel 13, according to The Times of Israel. "We don't have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts."
Newsweek reached out for comment to Trump's office via email on Thursday.
Saturday's attack by Hamas was the deadliest Palestinian militant assault on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes on Gaza in history.
As of Thursday, at least 1,200 people had been killed in Israel, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing the Israeli military. Over 1,400 people had been killed in Gaza, according to authorities there, AP said.
White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates has also denounced Trump's remarks concerning Hezbollah, saying in a statement that the comment was "dangerous and unhinged" and questioned "why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as 'smart.'"
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running against Trump in the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, had a similar response to the ex-president's remarks, asking why he "would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, much less praise Hezbollah terrorists as 'very smart.'"
Wednesday was not the first time that the former president has lashed out at Netanyahu. Although the two men appeared to enjoy a close friendship during Trump's presidency, their relationship has deteriorated significantly since Trump exited the White House.
While being interviewed by journalist Barak Ravid for the 2021 book Trump's Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East, Trump reportedly attacked the "loyalty" of the prime minister, saying "f*** him" over Netanyahu congratulating President Joe Biden on his 2020 presidential election win.
Last year, Netanyahu blasted Trump for hosting what he said was an "unacceptable" dinner with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and rapper Kanye West, who was facing an avalanche of criticism at the time for making a series of antisemitic remarks that included praise for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
Trump also said on Wednesday that there would have been "nobody even thinking about" attacking Israel if he had been declared the victor of the 2020 election, repeating his baseless claim that the contest was "rigged" by massive voter fraud.
In reality, Biden defeated Trump by more than 7 million votes in 2020 and no credible evidence of fraud that would have changed the outcome in even a single state has been produced in the nearly three years since the election ended.
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This is pretty amazing. The god of the right wing, the hero of the most patriotic American people (according to them) is excoriated by an official of the Israel government.
You have to wonder why Trump is going in this direction. Could it be that he doesnt think his base cares about Israel as much as they let on ?
I’ve given up on trying to understand or rationalize why Donald does what he does.
Oh, they care about Israel but not in the right kind of way. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of them are wringing their hands hoping that Armageddon is finally happening.
Put that in a "truth" Donny.
Truer words were never spoken.
A former U.S. President tearing down Israel and praising Hezbollah will do wonders for Israeli morale.
Trump can go f--- himself.
I wonder how a few of the Trump lovers on this site will take this.
In stride I would guess.
For devout Trumpists his cruelty is a big plus. It's one of the things they like about him best.
But Omar said ... /S
Trump's extreme capacity for jealously may lead to his downfall. Netanyahu was complimentary to Biden and Trump cannot stand that, so he lashed out at Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, as the leader of an allied foreign country, congratulated Biden on winning the Presidency, and Trump went berserk, accusing Netanyahu of not being "loyal". WTF?!!!!!
But don't you think that Netanyahu is responsible for the Hamas animals?..
I am not a fan of Bibi Netanyahu, but that is besides the point of this story.
As for Netanyahu being responsible for the Hamas animals, no , they are responsible for themselves.
Where in that article, which I did not write but rather comes from an Israeli newsaper, does it say that Netanyahu is responsible for the actions of Hamas? It says he is responsible for the war.
Netanyahu is a right winger who doesnt give a hang about the Palestinians, but he is not responsible for the actions of Hamas.
Aren't the actions of Hamas the reason for the war?
Bullshit! He's not friggin' Superman!
To say that Israel was unprepared is an understatement.
After Pearl Harbor was attacked Admiral Kimmel (a 4-star Admiral) was removed from command. Heads should roll in Israel as well.
Do you think that a presidential candidate whose party is allegedly super supportive of Israel should be attacking Israel on the eve of a ground invasion of Gaza ? Israel does not seem to be happy with Trump, and it is more than this one official.
Apparently there is nothing on earth that can get you to unconditionally criticize Donald Trump. He should send you a merit badge or something.
And dont say he didnt verbally attack them. They think he did.
That is not an attack on the nation of Israel. It is a criticism of those charged with Israel's defense. Some here have argued that they never should have pulled out of the west bank. I doubt that Netanyahu prefers Biden to Trump despite any critique that the former President offers up.
Apparently there is nothing on earth that can get you to unconditionally criticize Donald Trump.
There are quite a few things that I have issues with, however they are minor.
Trump is jealous of the fact that Netanyahu had a couple complimentary things to say about Biden. His reptillian brain had to fight back against this perceived embarrassment so he attacked Netanyahu and Israel's leadership in general. The Israelis took offense at this to the point that an official of the Israeli government publicly said Trump was "shameful" and was hurting Israeli morale.
MAGA can spin this all day and it is still there for all to see.
I think you mean Gaza, Israel has not pulled out of the West Bank, in fact Netanyahu ordered troops moved from the Gaza area to the West Bank in recent months and some commentary is that this weakened the Israeli presence in the areas that were attacked Saturday.
It is called diplomacy. Netanyahu knows how Biden feels about him. It was revealed in that very first statement Blinken made and had to take down:
“Turkish Foreign Minister @HakanFidan and I spoke further on Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel. I encouraged Türkiye’s advocacy for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas immediately,” read Blinken’s post on X, formerly Twitter.
Notice that Israeli officials said nothing about that. It is very simple John, Biden is president.... unfortunately, and Israel wants the US on their side.
I wish I could say I know you're kidding, but it is the opposite.
Do you really think Netanyahu is going to say what he thinks of Biden?