Clinton Calls for Tough US Stance on Future Israeli Government

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the United States to adopt a "very tough stance" if Israelis re-elect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his policies. Speaking on the program "Morning Joe," Clinton, who expressed affection for Israel but dislike for Netanyahu's government and its policies, linked her remarks to the upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, 2026.

Clinton drew a parallel between her criticism of the Israeli government and her past critique of the Trump administration, stating, "I love America and I hate the Trump administration and its policies." She believes that if Israelis vote for Netanyahu again, the U.S. must respond with a significantly firmer approach, arguing that the current situation harms both nations and that a lasting peace requires a more assertive American policy toward any future Israeli government.

During the interview, Clinton also addressed a report by the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" alleging that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of a large-scale plot ten days before the October 7, 2023, attack. Netanyahu has vehemently denied this report. Clinton presented two possibilities regarding Netanyahu's alleged knowledge of the warning: either he did not believe it, or, in her words, "he wanted to see what they could plan so he could respond strongly and strengthen his position." She characterized such an event as a "failure of leadership and of protecting the citizens of Israel."

Clinton also called for a change in government in Israel and demanded a strong response to settler violence in the West Bank, asserting that granting immunity for such violence harms Israeli society as a whole. Her remarks encompassed the Israeli government's policies, the upcoming elections, the events preceding the October 7th attack, and the handling of violence in the West Bank.