Netanyahu hails Trump alliance as Israel forges new regional ties, calls him ‘my personal friend’
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leaning heavily on his alliance with President Donald Trump as Israel continues its joint military campaign with the United States against Iran.
Speaking at his first press conference since the war began, Netanyahu praised the unusually close coordination between Jerusalem and Washington. He described the partnership with Trump as unprecedented.
“We have created an alliance unlike any before with the United States – an alliance with our great friend, my personal friend, President Trump. We speak almost every day. We speak freely, exchange ideas and advice, and make decisions together,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli leader revealed that he had spoken with Trump again shortly before the briefing and recounted what he said was the President’s view of their partnership.
According to Netanyahu, Trump told him that their “relationship is one hundred times stronger than any relationship that has existed between an American president and an Israeli prime minister. We are not thinking only about our countries, or only about this generation. We are thinking about future generations – about the future of humanity."
Netanyahu pursues quiet diplomacy amid Israel-US military campaign
While the conflict dominates headlines, Netanyahu suggested another effort is unfolding behind the scenes to build new alliances in the Middle East.
“In these days, my team and I are weaving additional alliances with countries in the region – alliances that only a few weeks ago would have seemed unimaginable,” he added, without elaborating further.
The remarks appeared to nod toward the regional realignment sparked during Trump’s first term through the Abraham Accords. These were normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations that both leaders have repeatedly said they want to expand.
As the war continues, Netanyahu insisted the joint campaign is already delivering results faster than anticipated.
"The campaign is going better than expected," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel today is "stronger than ever".
He also took aim at Iran’s new leadership, mocking the country’s recently installed supreme leader. Netanyahu called him a "puppet" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and said the leader "cannot show his face in public."
The question of whether Israel might target Mojtaba Khamenei (who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after he was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28) drew a carefully worded response from Netanyahu.
"I wouldn't issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organizations," he said. "And I don't intend to provide an exact report here about what we are planning or what we are going to do," he added.
Israel’s war efforts aim to halt Iran’s nuclear program and spark change
Israel launched its campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Roaring Lion, on February 28. The United States later joined the offensive under Operation Epic Fury.
According to Israeli and US officials, the operations are designed to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, dismantle its ballistic-missile programme, and weaken regional proxy groups aligned with Tehran.
Netanyahu defended the strikes as necessary to prevent Iran from reaching a point where its military industries would be untouchable.
"If we had not acted immediately, within a few months Iran’s industries of death would have become immune to any strike. Therefore, we went out together to battle — the United States and Israel — to continue what we began and to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. To prevent Iran from developing ballistic missiles that threaten Israel, the United States, and the entire world. That is our objective," he said.
The Israeli leader also suggested that the military pressure could eventually influence developments inside Iran itself.
"We are landing crushing blows on the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij both in the streets and at checkpoints, and we are still active," he said.
Netanyahu then addressed the Iranian public directly, urging them to seize what he described as a moment of opportunity.
"The moment when you can embark on a new path of freedom, that moment is approaching. We stand by you, we are helping you. But at the end of the day, it depends on you! It is in your hands," he declared.
