Trump: Netanyahu knows who the boss is

Washington, July 4 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Saturday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could visit the White House as early as next week, while asserting that the Israeli leader “knows who the boss is” as the two allies seek to reset ties strained by differences over Iran and the wider Middle East.

“We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is,” Trump told Axios in a brief telephone interview on Saturday, referring to himself.

According to the report, Trump said Netanyahu had requested a meeting at the White House and that it could take place after he returns from the NATO summit.

The meeting, if it goes ahead, would be the first between the two leaders since their Situation Room meeting in February, when Netanyahu presented his plan for launching a joint war against Iran.

However, an Israeli official told Axios that next week could be too soon because of Trump’s travel schedule. The official said the meeting “might take place the week after”.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Netanyahu spoke to Trump by telephone on Friday to congratulate him on the 250th anniversary of American independence, the report said.

“During their conversation, the Prime Minister said that the United States is a guarantor of global freedom, and that Israel greatly values the close relationship between the two nations. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the United States,” Netanyahu’s office said.

The Axios report said the possible meeting comes at a time when Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has faced growing strain despite their long-standing political alliance.

Quoting a US official, the report said: “Many of Trump’s closest advisers think that Bibi was wrong about everything.”

Axios also reported that Trump criticised Netanyahu during a telephone conversation last month over Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon, calling the Israeli leader “crazy” and accusing him of ingratitude.

The report said the differences between the two leaders have widened over regional policy. Despite Netanyahu’s reservations, Trump signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last month extending the ceasefire with Iran and beginning a fresh round of nuclear negotiations.

Trump also urged Netanyahu to limit Israeli military operations in Lebanon and support a framework agreement that would require an initial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, according to the report.

Axios said a White House meeting would carry significant political value for Netanyahu as he prepares for Israel’s October elections, with opinion polls showing him trailing.

During the interview, Trump also commented on developments involving Iran following the reported assassination of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the war.

Trump claimed the Iranians “are begging to make a deal”, but said both sides had agreed to pause negotiations until events surrounding Khamenei’s funeral conclude.

“They are all there. One shot [and we can take them all out], but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with,” Trump said.

He also said he was surprised to see mourners crying during the funeral.

“Maybe it’s fake tears,” Trump said.

–IANS

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