Netanyahu Affirms Strong Ties with Trump Amid Reports of Strain

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a Newsmax TV interview on Wednesday night about his relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump, dismissing reports of deterioration and stating, "The relationship with Trump could not be better." Netanyahu acknowledged that while they agree on most issues, they have disagreements, such as over the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, but emphasized their direct and honest communication as a sign of true friendship.

Netanyahu praised the United States as a defender of freedom and democracy, marking America's 250 years of independence. He contrasted this with Iran and Turkey, where dissenters risk imprisonment, highlighting that the ability to debate is a hallmark of democracy.

Addressing Iran's nuclear program, Netanyahu warned that Iran cannot be trusted and insisted any agreement must include full, continuous inspections to prevent nuclear weapons development. He credited Israeli and U.S. operations with significantly delaying Iran's nuclear ambitions and highlighted the threat posed by Iran's chemical weapons combined with its extremist regime.

Regarding regional security, Netanyahu stated that Hezbollah has lost most of its missile stockpile but remains funded by Iran. He asserted that peace between Israel and Lebanon depends on Hezbollah disarming. On Hamas, Netanyahu said the group refuses to disarm or govern Gaza peacefully, aiming to evade commitments to continue controlling the territory and launching future terrorist attacks against Israel, which must be prevented.