How Trump’s Dependence on Netanyahu Turned Into Leverage Over Him

A Hebrew television analysis published on June 12, 2026 says the Trump-Netanyahu relationship has reached a new peak of tension, after years in which personal closeness brought Israel major gains but also created deep dependence. The report argues that Benjamin Netanyahu can no longer realistically refuse Donald Trump, even when Israeli interests are at stake, especially after Trump drew him into discussions about Netanyahu’s own pardon case. The piece says Trump even shouted at Netanyahu, “You’re crazy, without me you’d be in prison,” and later claimed, “he will do whatever I want him to do.”

The article reviews a long history of Israeli prime ministers clashing with Washington. It cites David Ben-Gurion in 1956, Yitzhak Rabin under Gerald Ford, Menachem Begin under Ronald Reagan, and Yitzhak Shamir under George H. W. Bush, each facing U.S. pressure over policy disputes. Former officials and commentators quoted in the report say that in those earlier cases, saying no to the White House could be costly, but still mattered strategically. Ehud Barak says a leader must be able to say no when something essential is at stake, while former U.S. ambassador Dan Shapiro says Netanyahu’s ability to refuse Trump is much more limited than with other presidents.

The report says the relationship worsened sharply when Netanyahu opposed President Barack Obama in Congress in 2015 over the Iran nuclear agreement, a move that backfired by helping Obama rally support for the deal. It also highlights the period after October 7, saying the U.S. became unusually involved in Israel’s war planning, to the point that Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a cabinet meeting and senior Israeli officials briefed Americans on military plans. Former ambassador Assi Shreib is quoted saying Israel effectively became a “protectorate” after October 7.

According to the piece, the latest problem is Trump’s desire to end the regional war and strike a deal with Iran that Israel sees as dangerous. Shapiro says Trump now has extra leverage because he publicly raised the idea of a pardon for Netanyahu from the Knesset podium, and Netanyahu’s request for “a personal favor” deepens the dependence. The article ends by saying the friendship has become a liability, leaving Netanyahu with few tools to resist pressure from Washington.