WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday played down tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insisting that their relationship remains “very good” despite growing disagreements over a proposed plan for Gaza.
“The relationship is very good,” Trump said when a journalist shouted a question about his ties with Netanyahu at the conclusion of an event at the Oval Office.
The remarks came a day after Netanyahu publicly rejected the latest US-led Gaza proposal, highlighting an increasingly visible difference between the two leaders over how the conflict should be brought to an end.
Netanyahu Rejects US-Backed Gaza Proposal
The proposed plan calls for Israel to begin withdrawing its forces from Gaza alongside the disarmament of Hamas.
Netanyahu, however, has made clear that he does not support the proposal in its current form.
The Israeli prime minister is facing significant political pressure at home, particularly from members of his right-wing coalition who have opposed moves they believe could limit Israel’s military objectives in Gaza.
Netanyahu is also facing a challenging political environment ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections. Opinion polls cited in the report indicate that he is either tied or trailing some opponents.
The Gaza proposal is reportedly unpopular among parts of Netanyahu’s right-wing political base, with far-right members of his cabinet urging him to reject the plan.
Trump and Netanyahu Have Also Clashed Over Iran
The disagreement over Gaza is not the first recent policy difference between Trump and Netanyahu.
Although Trump has provided strong political backing to Israel during his presidency, the two leaders have also diverged over the conflict with Iran.
Trump joined Netanyahu in late February in launching military action against Iran. However, Trump later pushed for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement, as the conflict placed additional pressure on global energy markets and contributed to rising oil prices.
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The differences over Iran demonstrated that Washington and Jerusalem could have different priorities even while maintaining close strategic ties.
Trump has previously taken several significant steps in support of Israel, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, while Netanyahu has frequently highlighted his relationship with the US president as an important component of his political position.
Gaza Ceasefire Has Reduced but Not Ended Fighting
The latest Gaza proposal represents another stage in a US-brokered ceasefire announced in October.
The ceasefire has reduced the intensity of Israeli military operations in Gaza but has not brought the conflict to a complete end.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authorities, more than 1,250 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire.
The United Nations has previously considered casualty figures from Gaza’s health ministry to be broadly reliable, although the figures are issued by an authority operating under Hamas control.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, has reported five deaths among its forces during the same period.
Netanyahu Under Domestic Pressure
The dispute over the Gaza plan comes at a particularly sensitive time for Netanyahu, who faces pressure from both his political allies and voters.
While some Israelis have supported efforts to secure a long-term ceasefire and reduce military involvement in Gaza, members of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have demanded that Israel maintain its military objectives and reject arrangements they believe could leave Hamas intact.
Against this backdrop, Netanyahu’s rejection of the US-backed proposal could further complicate efforts to reach a durable settlement.
Trump’s decision to publicly describe his relationship with Netanyahu as “very good” suggests that, despite disagreements over Gaza and Iran, the US president is seeking to maintain the broader strategic partnership with Israel.
For now, however, the differences between Washington and the Israeli government underline the challenges facing any US-led effort to secure a lasting resolution to the Gaza conflict.
