Israeli Officials Slam Trump’s Unilateral Moves Amid Gaza War and Soldier Release
Netanyahu Claims Soldier’s Release Was Due to “Military Pressure,” While Israeli Ministers and Opposition Leaders Criticize Trump’s Diplomatic Approach and the Government’s Handling of Captives.
Watan-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a brief comment on recent dramatic regional developments, saying that the “release” of soldier Alexander was the result of “military pressure” in parallel with U.S. diplomacy — a statement that triggered a wave of sarcastic reactions.
Amid Israel’s official silence regarding Donald Trump’s visit to the region, which begins today (Tuesday), Minister of Regional Cooperation David Amsalem sharply criticized the U.S. president, accusing him of “acting without coordination with Israel.”
Speaking to Israeli public radio this morning, Amsalem said: “He is not the only leader in the region. He is an unpredictable person trying to impose a halt to the war and reach a deal with Hamas. That will not happen.”
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Despite Netanyahu’s instructions not to make public statements about U.S. initiatives, Amsalem continued his criticism: “We welcome the developments, but the way Trump has behaved is wrong and reflects his erratic personality. On existential matters, Israel must act solely based on its own interests.”
Regarding Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Amsalem added: “Trump has acted in favor of Israel so far, but he’s unpredictable — waking up each morning on a different side of the bed. We are now dealing with an American president who decides one thing in the morning, something else in the evening, a third decision afterward, and then a fourth. This causes confusion around the world. When you are the world’s leader, you must have a clear path, consistency, and persistence.”
He continued: “Just a week ago, he surprised everyone with his announcement about an agreement with the Houthis. At first, he said they begged the U.S. for a ceasefire, but later it turned out that Oman had mediated the deal to halt attacks on U.S. ships. Also, with all due respect, we oppose any nuclear project in Saudi Arabia. This would trigger a regional nuclear arms race.”
Earlier, opposition leader Yair Lapid commented on the release of the Israeli-American soldier Alexander, calling the U.S.-Hamas negotiations “a colossal political failure for Netanyahu’s government and its leadership.”
Lapid added: “The release of the American-Israeli soldier Idan Alexander should be the start of a comprehensive deal to return all captives.”
