Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is backing a new congressional resolution that calls for phasing out U.S. military aid to Israel and replacing it with a joint strategic partnership between the longtime allies.
The resolution, introduced Wednesday by Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) after a meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem last week, <a href="https://stutzman.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stutzman-introduces-resolution-transition-us-israel-relations">calls</a> for ending the current military aid framework and replacing it with expanded cooperation on defense technology, intelligence sharing, weapons development, and strategic planning.
The proposal reflects a position Netanyahu has increasingly embraced over the past year: that Israel should reduce its dependence on American military assistance and build a more self-sufficient defense industry while maintaining a close alliance with Washington.
“As I said in our meeting in Jerusalem on May 27, 2026, Israel deeply appreciates the financial component of the military aid the United States has generously provided us over the years,” Netanyahu wrote <a href="https://stutzman.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/stutzman.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/usa-rep-marlin-stutzman-defense-cooperation-1.6.26.pdf.pdf">in a letter</a> endorsing the legislation. “The time has now arrived for us to move from aid recipient to partner.”
Israel receives roughly $3.8 billion annually in U.S. military aid under a long-standing memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Most of that funding must be spent on American-made military equipment and defense systems.
Stutzman said the resolution would mark “a new era” in the U.S.-Israel alliance.
“Above all, the United States and Israel stand together against totalitarianism and for freedom,” Stutzman said in a statement. “We are bound by the shared Western values that built both our nations.”
“This resolution affirms that the United States stands with Israel not out of obligation, but out of shared strength and shared strategic interest. Israel has come of age where our nations should contribute equally and share results equally.”
Supporters of the move argue the current aid structure no longer reflects Israel’s military and economic strength, noting that Israel is now one of the world’s top arms exporters and spends a larger share of its GDP on defense than nearly every NATO ally. Backers also say the plan aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader foreign policy approach of encouraging allied nations to take greater responsibility for their own defense while maintaining close strategic partnerships with the United States.
Even U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a decades-long supporter of Israel, suggested this week that the future of the relationship lies beyond traditional aid, arguing that the alliance already delivers significant returns for the United States.
“Israel receives $3.8 billion but spends far more than that buying U.S. military goods,” Huckabee <a href="https://x.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/2061406904140845427?s=20">wrote on X</a>. “U.S. also receives intel, tech innovations so that ROI is many times more.”
He added that a future U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding could reflect that shift, writing: “New MOU w/ Israel ends aid &amp; will be based on trade.”
Israeli leaders have increasingly argued that dependence on foreign weapons shipments creates vulnerabilities during wartime. Those concerns intensified after the Biden administration temporarily <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-halts-weapons-shipments-to-idf-to-send-a-political-message-to-israel-report">halted a shipment</a> of heavy bombs and threatened to withhold offensive weapons if Israel launched an assault on Rafah. It wasn’t until Trump took office that all of the weapons were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-releases-weapons-to-israel-that-biden-withheld-for-political-reasons">shipped</a>. 
Netanyahu recently <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-israeli-soldiers-lost-their-lives-in-gaza-due-to-biden-era-arms-embargo/">blamed</a> the embargo for the death of soldiers because of the lack of ammunition. 
“At a certain stage, we simply didn’t have enough ammunition and people fell, heroes fell,” he said. “Part of that shortage of ammunition was the result of an embargo.”
During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the Obama administration <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-official-confirms-us-nixed-missile-sale-pm-blamed-for-soured-ties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">suspended a shipment</a> of Hellfire missiles and increased oversight of weapons transfers.
Retired Israeli Brigadier General Amir Avivi told The Daily Wire that episodes like those convinced many Israeli defense officials that the country needed greater manufacturing independence. 
“This really shook the Israeli defense establishment and an understanding that you cannot really rely, during a moment of truth, on getting what we need,” Avivi said.
Avivi added that he reached a similar conclusion while serving as chief auditor of Israel&#8217;s defense establishment in 2014.  
“We really lacked the capabilities because we transferred many capabilities to the U.S., and this really hurt our readiness but also our sovereignty — our ability as a country to defend ourselves,” he said. 

Other Israeli officials and defense analysts argue that the current aid structure has made Israel increasingly reliant on American suppliers while weakening incentives to expand domestic production. Under the military aid agreement negotiated during the Obama administration, the percentage of U.S. aid that Israel can spend on its own defense industry has steadily declined — from 25% to just 11% this year — and is scheduled to reach zero by 2028, a change critics say undermines Israel’s long-term military independence.
When unveiling his $108 billion, decade-long plan to build an independent Israeli munitions industry, Netanyahu emphasized the goal to “reduce our dependence on all players, including friends.”
Israel is already one of the world’s leading arms exporters, generating roughly $19 billion in weapons sales in 2025, but it remains dependent on foreign suppliers for key munitions and military equipment.
Advocates of the transition also contend that ending aid would strengthen political support for the alliance in the United States because it “creates antagonism both among the hard right and the delusional left.” 
“In the United States, some — such as Tucker Carlson — use the aid to attack Israel,” Avivi said. “They ask why American taxpayers are funding Israel and its wars. Israel wants to remove this argument entirely and say: ‘We don’t want aid.’”
Lawyer and Israeli activist Ran Bar-Yoshafat told The Daily Wire that ending aid would reduce both political friction and foreign leverage over Israeli military operations. 
“The use of force is constrained according to American preferences,” Bar-Yoshafat, a reservist combat special forces officer, said. “The Americans, depending on the administration and military establishment, routinely dictate what weapons we can use and where in the field.”

Netanyahu

Netanyahu Backs Bill That Few Expected Him To Support

Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel

Trump Administration

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is gearing up for yet another political battle as the Israeli Knesset weighs dissolving early ahead of elections expected this fall. For many Israelis, the coming vote will be another referendum on Netanyahu himself. 
After years of political chaos, repeated elections, war, and deep internal divisions, the campaign is shaping up less as a debate over policy and more as a simple question facing the country yet again: whether Israelis want the Bibi era to continue.
Netanyahu is facing political pressure from multiple directions ahead of the upcoming election. His coalition is fracturing over the controversial issue of military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Israelis, public anger over the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks continues, and opposition parties are attempting to unite.
Netanyahu is no stranger to political survival. Even before the October 7 attacks, Israel had already gone through four elections in just a few years as coalition governments repeatedly fell apart. Netanyahu himself served as prime minister from 1996 to 1999 and then again from 2009 to 2021, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history.
His current government is now approaching the end of his four half term in office, which is the maximum allowed under Israeli law and a rare achievement in Israel’s notoriously unstable parliamentary system. Elections must legally be held by October 27 at the latest. 
While the Israel Netanyahu governs today is different from the country that existed before October 7, focus is shifting back to deep domestic divisions.
Just prior to the Hamas attacks, Israel was consumed by internal division over Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms, with massive protests rocking the country and raising fears of a constitutional crisis. 
Then came October 7, the deadliest terrorist attack in Israeli history, followed by war in Gaza and escalating regional conflict involving Iran and its proxies. In the aftermath, a wartime coalition government was formed, temporarily muting some political tensions while all focus was on ensuring the Jewish state’s defense and survival. 
Now, even as negotiations with Iran continue to stall and fears of a broader regional war remain, Israeli domestic tensions are once again exploding ahead of a possible election.
At the center of the immediate political crisis is one of the most sensitive issues in Israeli society: military service exemptions for the Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, community. 
Netanyahu’s coalition included and depended on Haredi political parties that oppose drafting young men studying in religious seminaries, or yeshivas, into the Israel Defense Forces. Many ultra-Orthodox leaders fear military service could pull students away from religious studies, expose them to secular and forbidden lifestyles, or place them under non-religious authority structures. 
But after nearly three years of war, support has grown significantly among the broader Israeli public for requiring Haredi Israelis to serve alongside their peers. Many Israelis argue the military needs additional manpower to alleviate reservists who have carried an unsustainable burden through repeated deployments since October 7. Others say it is unfair that Haredi communities receive significant economic assistance without their young people serving in the military.
That is not to say that no Haredi Israelis serve in the military. While still a minority, some ultra-Orthodox men do enlist, including in the IDF’s all-ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade. The brigade, founded after October 7 in response to the needed manpower and the sense of duty that some Haredi men felt to protect their nation, operates as an all-male unit with religious accommodations for its soldiers. 
According to <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bj8by8ec11e?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Ynet</a>, the brigade has recently carried out raids targeting weapons and terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon, while its first class of soldiers also recently completed officer training courses.
If the Knesset dissolves this week, the timing itself would only move elections up by a matter of weeks, but it would create one significant complication. Israel will enter what is known as a caretaker government, in which the outgoing government continues governing with limited powers until a new coalition is formed after elections in order to avoid a vacuum in leadership. 
During that period, key appointments cannot easily be confirmed, which has become a major issue because Israel has still not finalized confirmation of a new Mossad director, a priority Netanyahu reportedly wants completed.
At the same time, caretaker governments can be advantageous to sitting prime ministers by giving them greater operational flexibility with an inactive Knesset. Dissolving the government early could also help ensure elections take place several weeks before the third anniversary of October 7, when public anger and emotions surrounding the attacks could intensify even further. 
The opposition is already preparing to make the next election a referendum on accountability for October 7.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has pledged that if he forms the next government, the very first cabinet meeting would establish a formal commission of inquiry into the failures that led to the October 7 massacre. Several opposition figures argue Israel must fully investigate what went wrong militarily, politically, and institutionally. 
Bennett is attempting to rebuild a coalition spanning the Israeli political spectrum. Politically, he is trying to convince centrist and left-leaning voters that he can pull support away from Netanyahu while also reassuring conservatives who abandoned him after he previously partnered with left-wing and Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Arab parties in 2021 to remove Netanyahu from power. 
Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot is also emerging as a major political figure. Viewed as a centrist with strong national security credentials, Eisenkot has become increasingly attractive to voters seeking military credibility without Netanyahu’s polarizing political baggage. His recently-founded Yashar political party has already caught the eye of many Israelis.
<a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-896302">Polling shows</a> the opposition could become significantly stronger if alliances form. According to a recent Maariv poll, 55% of Israelis surveyed said Netanyahu should retire from political life, while only 38% said he should continue running. The same poll found that if Eisenkot joined Bennett and left-wing opposition leader Yair Lapid on a joint list, the alliance could potentially win 49 seats in the Knesset. A minimum of 61 seats is needed to form a governing coalition.
It’s important to note that Israeli polling remains notoriously unreliable at this stage because the final political alignments remain unclear. A political insider compared the current numbers to early American presidential straw polls conducted before candidates officially announce their campaigns. 
Another insider added that the upcoming election will likely be another referendum on “Bibi,” with many voters sorting themselves into camps that are pro-Netanyahu, anti-Netanyahu, or anti-anti-Netanyahu — meaning voters who may not personally support Netanyahu but are exhausted by what they see as relentless political opposition to him. 
One insider described it as a type of political infection similar to Trump derangement syndrome.
“They will do anything to get rid of Bibi, even allying with those they have far deeper ideological disagreements with politically.”
Some of Netanyahu’s supporters see him as advantageous both because he is feared by his country’s enemies and because of his close relationship to President Donald Trump.
While some Americans believe removing Netanyahu from power could significantly alter Israel’s wartime posture, many analysts believe an opposition government would prosecute the wars in Gaza and against Iran-backed forces in largely similar ways. 
The bigger question may be whether a government without Netanyahu may be more open to international pressure for a Palestinian state in Gaza and parts of the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria. Especially if expanding the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia required concessions on Palestinian statehood. Some Israelis also believe that a different leader could repair their country&#8217;s relations with leaders in Europe and Democrats in the United States.
Netanyahu’s age and health may also become factors in the campaign. The 76-year-old prime minister has dealt with heart-related health issues in and recently underwent treatment for prostate cancer. 
For now, it appears Netanyahu intends to run again. It’s never been his nature to back down from a fight, especially one that could protect his legacy. But after years of political dominance, coalition maneuvering, and survival, the next Israeli election may become the clearest test yet of whether the country is ready to move beyond the Netanyahu era.

They’ve Tried To Take Down Bibi Before. Here We Go Again.

Knesset

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; interview that he wanted to see U.S. military aid to Israel reduced to $0 within ten years.
Netanyahu spoke with CBS News&#8217;s Major Garrett in an interview that aired on Sunday, and he said that his goal was to see an Israel no longer dependent on aid from the United States.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells 60 Minutes he wants Israel to eventually stop relying on U.S. military aid: “It&#8217;s time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support.” <a href="https://t.co/mEN4CWeXMW">https://t.co/mEN4CWeXMW</a> <a href="https://t.co/LIwJKrfMOQ">pic.twitter.com/LIwJKrfMOQ</a>
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes/status/2053549148998099293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Do you believe it&#8217;s time for the state of Israel to reexamine and possibly reset its financial relationship with the United States — meaning what the United States provides to Israel on an annual basis?&#8221; Garrett asked.
Netanyahu&#8217;s reply was unequivocal: &#8220;Absolutely. And I&#8217;ve said this to President Trump, I&#8217;ve said it to our own people. Their jaws dropped, but I said, &#8216;Look.'&#8221;
Garrett prompted Netanyahu to elaborate, asking, &#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;
&#8220;I want to draw down to $0 the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have, because we receive $3.8 billion a year, and I think that it&#8217;s time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support,&#8221; Netanyahu said.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-israel-does-not-want-americas-military-aid-money-anymore">Why Israel Does Not Want America’s Military Aid Money Anymore</a>
Garrett asked whether the Israeli Prime Minister was able to give him &#8220;a timetable&#8221; or an estimate as to when he thought that could be accomplished.
&#8220;I said let&#8217;s start now and do it over the next decade, over the next ten years, but I want to start now,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to wait for the next congress, I wasn&#8217;t to start now, and it could go down very fast.&#8221;
Netanyahu also weighed in on the state of the ongoing war in Iran, saying that he believed much of what the United States and Israel set out to accomplish had come to pass, but that it wasn&#8217;t over yet.
&#8220;I think it accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“I think it accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells 60 Minutes about the war in Iran. Netanyahu says highly enriched uranium must be removed from Iran and believes “it can be done physically.” <a href="https://t.co/N5XbvzpYa0">pic.twitter.com/N5XbvzpYa0</a>
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes/status/2053482816134955065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Donald Trump & Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu Says He Wants To Completely Change US-Israel Relationship

Military

military aid

In a startling new development surrounding the International Criminal Court (ICC), a witness statement claims that the Qatari government promised to “look after” prosecutor Karim Khan if he moved forward with arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/karim-khan-icc-prosecutor-benjamin-netanyahu-qatar-israel-7b62d474?mod=hp_opin_pos_1">reports</a>.
The accusation, which is supported by audio recordings reviewed by investigators, suggests a potential quid pro quo agreement between the Gulf state and the ICC&#8217;s top prosecutor. According to the witness statement submitted to the FBI, the promise of state protection was made while Khan was reportedly hesitant to issue the warrants.
“I want to issue the warrant, but I’m terrified to do it,” Khan told intermediaries, according to a recorded conversation cited in the report.
“If you do it, then we’ll look after you,” a voice described as linked to the Qatari state responded, according to the recording.
These revelations add to a layer of geopolitical intrigue to the scandal already engulfing Khan, who took a leave of absence in May 2025 following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. Khan has denied the accusations and described them as part of an “orchestrated campaign” to discredit him.
Investigators are also examining whether a Qatar-linked intelligence effort sought to discredit Khan&#8217;s accuser, according to the report. The operation, involving London-based firms Highgate and Elicius Intelligence, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov/06/qatar-linked-intelligence-operation-targeted-icc-prosecutor-karim-khan-alleged-victim">allegedly sought</a> to find &#8220;links&#8221; between the female accuser and Israeli intelligence.
Documents and recordings indicate the firms investigated whether the victim—a Malaysian Muslim lawyer—had a “Jewish grandmother” or a secret Israeli passport. They even scrutinized her husband’s former employment at a company with a kosher-food subsidiary, speculating that a rabbi associated with the firm could provide “cover employment” for an agent.
The witness statement claims the intelligence operation also targeted Tom Lynch, a senior American ICC official who first reported the assault allegation, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Investigators reportedly attempted to link Lynch to the “Israel political lobby” in Washington.
Khan has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the intelligence operations. His lawyer said Khan never discussed the warrants with Qatari officials prior to the warrants and “was not offered or given (and would not have sought or accepted) any ‘promise’ by any state to ‘look after’ him.”
The Qatari government has dismissed the allegations as &#8220;unfounded.&#8221;
According to the report, individuals involved in the recordings referred to their employer as &#8220;the client country&#8221; or &#8220;Q country,&#8221; with one manager reportedly clarifying: &#8220;No, it’s the state.&#8221;
The controversy comes as the ICC’s governing body has voted to advance disciplinary proceedings against Khan. A United Nations inquiry previously found a “factual basis” for the sexual misconduct claims and allegations of retaliation against staff.
As the Dutch counterterror agency (NCTV) interviews ICC officials who may have been targeted by the spying operation, the cloud over the court’s objectivity continues to darken. Critics argue that if the prosecutor’s legal decisions were influenced by promises of state protection, the integrity of the warrants against Israeli leaders—and the ICC itself—may be permanently compromised.

United Nations Security Council Meets On Ongoing War In Sudan

Qatar Promised To ‘Look After’ ICC Prosecutor If He Targeted Netanyahu, Witness Claims

International Criminal Court

Qatar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit the United States for a summit starting May 11 to meet with President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
The visit, first reported by i24News, is reportedly <a href="https://x.com/guyaz/status/2048012973394805159?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">contingent</a> on whether or not Netanyahu can safely leave Israel.
Netanyahu last met with Trump in February, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-bibis-closed-door-white-house-meeting-stretches-three-hours?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+And+Bibi%E2%80%99s+Closed-Door+White+House+Meeting+Stretches+Three+Hours">reported</a>, where the two discussed ongoing negotiations with Iran. The U.S. bombed Iran in Operation Epic Fury later that month.
The potential meeting comes as Trump has encouraged negotiations between Israel and Lebanon despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The two countries agreed to extend an ongoing ceasefire for three weeks following an April 23 meeting in the White House.
Netanyahu and Aoun’s meeting would fall within the timeframe of that ceasefire.
“The Meeting went very well!” Trump said in a Truth Social post <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116456113408853958">announcing</a> the ceasefire. “The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah.”
The meeting included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, along with diplomats from Israel and Lebanon.
In the post, Trump said he would host Netanyahu and Aoun “in the near future.”
The ceasefire agreement allows Israel to take self-defense measures while requiring Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from “carrying out attacks, operations, or hostile activities against Israeli targets,” The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-to-know-as-israel-and-lebanon-enter-another-round-of-high-stakes-negotiations?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=What+To+Know+As+Israel+And+Lebanon+Enter+Another+Round+Of+High-Stakes+Negotiations">reported</a>.
Tensions have remained high between the two countries, with both accusing the other of violating the ceasefire. The first round of talks was held April 14, the first high-level meeting between the two since 1993, The Daily Wire reported at the time.
Recently, an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus in the southern Lebanese village of Debel, causing widespread controversy and leading to swift condemnation and a formal response from the Israel Defense Forces.
In a statement on X, the IDF expressed “deep regret,” calling the act a “moral failure” that contradicts its core values. The soldier responsible, along with the individual who filmed the incident, has been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days of military detention. Additional troops present have been called in for review, and the IDF replaced the statue in “full coordination” with the local Christian community.

Trump Eyes Major Summit With Netanyahu As Tensions In Middle East Simmer

Donald Trump

Global Politics

U.S.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spent a lifetime staring down death—whether it was Egyptian fire in the Suez Canal, a terrorist’s bullet during the Sabena Flight 571 rescue, or the crushing weight of leading a nation in a multi-front war for survival. On Friday, the world learned that he has spent the last two months quietly staring down a new enemy: cancer. And, true to form, the cancer blinked first.
In a characteristically <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2047625296396845425">blunt announcement</a>, Netanyahu revealed that a routine medical screening recently detected a &#8220;tiny spot&#8221; of a malignant tumor in his prostate. While many men his age might opt for the &#8220;wait and watch&#8221; approach, the former Sayeret Matkal commando—a man who once refused to let fellow soldiers carry his stretcher during grueling navigation exercises—chose the path of maximum aggression.
“You already know me,” Netanyahu said, in a statement that served as both a medical update and a warning to Israel’s enemies. “When I’m given information in time about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately. This is true on the national level and also on the personal level.”
Netanyahu delayed the publication of his annual medical report by two months, a strategic move designed to deny the Iranian &#8220;terror regime&#8221; the opportunity to weaponize his health for propaganda purposes during the height of the current conflict. It was a classic &#8220;Bibi&#8221; maneuver: subordinating personal vulnerability to national security.
Much like the resolve of a certain president who rose powerfully to his feet after an assassin&#8217;s bullet nearly took off his head, the prime minister’s resolve is backed by a medical history that reads like a manual on physical toughness. In July 2023, after undergoing emergency surgery to implant a pacemaker under general anesthesia, Netanyahu was discharged on a Monday morning and was back in the Knesset by Monday afternoon to vote on historic judicial reform. Less than a year later, in March 2024, he underwent hernia surgery and was back at his desk within 24 hours.
This latest skirmish with a malignant tumor was no different. Netanyahu opted for targeted treatments that he claims have now &#8220;removed the problem,&#8221; leaving no trace of the disease. During the procedures, he reportedly read a book and continued working.
For the man who survived the &#8220;Unit,&#8221; the message was clear: a tumor is just another insurgent to be neutralized. Whether it is Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in the north, or a rogue cell in his own body, Netanyahu’s philosophy remains the same: identify the threat, strike it with precision, and return to the mission.
&#8220;Thank God, I overcame this too,&#8221; Netanyahu stated. &#8220;I am in excellent physical condition.&#8221;
The prime minister concluded his announcement by urging Israeli citizens to take care of their own health—a rare moment of paternal warmth from a leader whose political identity is forged in the fires of elite special forces combat.
But make no mistake: the &#8220;commando&#8221; is still very much in the room, and he has no intention of retreating.

Israeli Authorities Announce Rescue Of Four Hostages From Gaza

No Room For Weakness: Why Bibi Refused To Let a Tumor—Or Iran—Slow Him Down

Cancer

Health

World

After a viral photo showed an Israeli soldier severely damaging a Christian icon in Lebanon, Israel Defense Forces immediately investigated the incident, and finding the story factual, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the action in harsh terms, while reminding others that Israel always welcomes Christians and makes a home for them.
The Israel Defense Forces issued this statement:
<blockquote>
Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon. The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.
The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings. Furthermore, the IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place. The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.
The IDF views the incident with great… <a href="https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb">https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb</a>
&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/2045973415643767091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Netanyahu declared:
<blockquote>
As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths. All religions flourish in our land and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region. Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms. Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender. 
While Christians are being slaughtered in Syria and Lebanon by Muslims, the Christian population in Israel thrives unlike elsewhere in the Middle East. Israel is the only country in the region that the Christian population and standard of living is growing. Israel is the only place in the Middle East that adheres to freedom of worship for all. We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths. All religions flourish in our land and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region.
Yesterday, like the…
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu &#8211; בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/2046166181258650016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar added:
<blockquote>
The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful. I commend the IDF for its statement, for condemning the incident, and for conducting an investigation into the matter. I’m confident that the necessary strict measures will be taken against whoever carried out this ugly act. This shameful action is completely contrary to our values. Israel is a country that respects the different religions and their sacred symbols, and upholds tolerance and respect among faiths. We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful.
I commend the IDF for its statement, for condemning the incident, and for conducting an investigation into the matter. I’m confident that the necessary strict measures…
&mdash; Gideon Sa&#39;ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) <a href="https://twitter.com/gidonsaar/status/2046098060590076132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Unlike the Arab countries that surround it, in Israel, the Christian population is <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/christian-population-in-israel-is-around-184000-and-growing/">growing</a>. In March 2025, Joseph Puder, the founder and director of the Interfaith Taskforce for America and Israel, <a href="https://www.jns.org/opinion/joseph-puder/where-are-the-christians-of-bethlehem-and-the-middle-east#:~:text=Between%20October%202000%20and%20November,a%20Christian%20city%2C%20Bethlehem%20exemplifies">noted</a>, “In 1950, two years after Israel’s independence, there were 36,000 Christians in Israel. Today, there are 187,900 Christians in Israel, making it, as of 2021, the only country in the Middle East with a growing Christian population.”
He added:
<blockquote>
While the number of Christians in the Jewish state grows, a different story is occurring in areas controlled by the Palestinian Arabs, including Gaza. The Greek Orthodox Church recently said that “Terrorist attacks against Christians, assaults on churches, cemeteries, and Christian properties in the Palestinian Authority &#8230; have become daily occurrences, and their severity clearly intensifies during Christian holidays.”
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In January, Open Doors International released its annual <a href="https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/world-watch-list-2026-christian-persecution-at-all-time-high-in-15-nations/#:~:text=Syria%20suffered%20the%20largest%20single,Assad%20regime%20in%20December%202024.">World Watch List</a> of the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians, with Muslim countries dominating the list. They reported:
<blockquote>
North Korea maintains its top spot on the list for the 24th year, with a persecution score of 97; followed by Somalia, second on the list with a persecution score of 94; Yemen, third at 93; Sudan, fourth at 92; Eritrea, fifth at 90; Syria, sixth at 90; Nigeria, seventh at 89; Pakistan, eighth at 87; Libya, ninth at 87, and Iran, 10th at 87.
Rankings continue respectively with Afghanistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Mali, Burkina Faso, China, Iraq, Maldives, Algeria, Mauritania, CAR, Morocco, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Niger, Tajikistan, Laos, DRC, Mexico, Tunisia, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Turkmenistan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Oman, Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Egypt, Comoros, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Colombia, Chad, Jordan and Brunei.
</blockquote>
Israel was nowhere on the list.

Netanyahu Doesn’t Mince Words In Response To Vandalism Of Christian Icon By IDF Soldier

Christianity

Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Religion

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman appeared on CNN this past Saturday to offer a masterclass in the paralyzing pathology of the modern Left: he is so consumed by his visceral hatred for Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu that he is &#8220;torn&#8221; over whether he actually wants to see a genocidal, terror-sponsoring regime in Iran defeated.
&#8220;I really want to see Iran defeated militarily,&#8221; Friedman admitted, acknowledging that the regime is &#8220;terrible&#8221; for its people and the region. But the &#8220;enlightened&#8221; foreign policy dean immediately hit a wall of his own making. &#8220;The problem is I really don&#8217;t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war because they are two awful human beings.&#8221;
For Friedman, the prospect of two democratically elected leaders—whom he smeared as &#8220;alleged crooks&#8221; and &#8220;terrible, terrible people&#8221;—achieving a geopolitical victory is apparently a fate worse than the continued survival of the Ayatollahs.
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Don’t want Iran to lose if it means Trump wins. <a href="https://twitter.com/tomfriedman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomFriedman</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYTimes</a> really wants “to see Iran defeated militarily because this regime is a terrible regime for its people and the region,” but on CNN’s <a href="https://twitter.com/smerconish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Smerconish</a> he fretted “the problem is I really don’t want to see Bibi… <a href="https://t.co/rgPngGXkGc">pic.twitter.com/rgPngGXkGc</a>
&mdash; Brent Baker 🇺🇲🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentHBaker/status/2043048290523005341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Left would rather watch the world burn than allow their political opponents to claim a win. Friedman’s obsession with Netanyahu isn&#8217;t a new development; it’s a long-documented fixation that frequently veers into the deranged.
Friedman has been railing against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for years; he has denounced the concept of Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”), <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/30/opinion/dead-man-walking.html">calling</a> Israeli settlements a “cancer for the Jewish people.”
After President Trump announced that he was going to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Friedman <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssTZuFWNKSc">slammed the decision</a>, saying the United States should have demanded concessions from Netanyahu before committing to the move. In 2023, as a historic normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia loomed, Friedman didn&#8217;t see an opportunity for Middle East stability. Instead, he wrote a column encouraging the Saudis to snub the deal because he deemed Netanyahu&#8217;s right-wing government &#8220;not normal.&#8221;
Friedman’s rhetoric has often crossed the line from policy critique into personal vilification. As the Algemeiner <a href="applewebdata://36DA76B4-D3E7-4476-B970-DEE10AE85A1F/Algemeiner">pointed out</a>, he has previously likened Netanyahu to a &#8220;dog&#8221; and an &#8220;alcoholic,&#8221; echoing tropes that are deeply offensive in the Middle Eastern context. He famously justified the Obama administration’s condescension toward Israel by stating, &#8220;friends don&#8217;t let friends drive drunk,&#8221; even while that same administration was busy sending billions in sanctions relief to Tehran.
Friedman represents a pundit class that views the world through a narrow straw of personal grievance. To him, the &#8220;physics&#8221; of Middle East peace are a game of tic-tac-toe that only he can solve, yet his solution is always the same: marginalize the conservative leaders he despises, even if it means leaving a vacuum for real monsters to fill.
Friedman’s loathing for Trump and Netanyahu has become his primary North Star, overriding even the desire to see a murderous regime in Iran brought to its knees. If a victory for the West means a victory for his political enemies, Friedman would apparently rather the West didn&#8217;t win at all.

The Boys’ Club of New York Ninth Annual Winter Luncheon

If You Can’t Root For The U.S. Against Iran, What Exactly Are You Rooting For?

Iran

The New York Times

Thomas Friedman

President Donald Trump and a number in his administration have suggested that Democrats and media were actively rooting for the United States to lose the war with Iran — and one New York Times columnist gave a striking example of that during a Saturday interview on CNN.
Foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman admitted that he felt torn over fully backing the United States in the ongoing Operation Epic Fury, saying that he wanted the Iranian regime to fall but that he wasn&#8217;t sure it was worth the cost of elevating President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Friedman told CNN host Michael Smerconish that he was all for the end of the Iranian regime, but that it was the likelihood the credit — and with that credit, political capital — would go to Trump and Netanyahu that gave him pause.
WATCH:
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Don’t want Iran to lose if it means Trump wins. <a href="https://twitter.com/tomfriedman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomFriedman</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYTimes</a> really wants “to see Iran defeated militarily because this regime is a terrible regime for its people and the region,” but on CNN’s <a href="https://twitter.com/smerconish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Smerconish</a> he fretted “the problem is I really don’t want to see Bibi… <a href="https://t.co/rgPngGXkGc">pic.twitter.com/rgPngGXkGc</a>
— Brent Baker 🇺🇲🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentHBaker/status/2043048290523005341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I find myself, Michael, in a situation where I really want to see Iran defeated militarily because this regime is a terrible regime for the people and the region,&#8221; he explained, saying that the best thing for the Iranian people — and for the region across the board — would be a regime change that resulted in leadership that allowed the people to flourish and thrive.
&#8220;I&#8217;m all for that. The problem is I really don’t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war because they are two awful human beings,&#8221; Friedman continued. &#8220;They are both engaged in anti-democratic projects in their own countries. They’re both alleged crooks. They are terrible, terrible people doing terrible things to America’s standing in the world and Israel’s standing in the world.&#8221;
&#8220;And so I really find myself torn,&#8221; Friedman concluded, saying that he was trying to balance his support for a new regime in Iran against his fears that Trump or Netanyahu might get a share of the credit for helping to  bring that about.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump

NYT Journo Admits He Was ‘Torn’ On Rooting For U.S. In Iran War

NYT Journo Admits He Was 'Torn' On Rooting For U.S. In Iran War

Media

New York Times

Politics

United States

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the immediate expulsion of Spanish representatives from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat. The move serves as a forceful assertion of Israeli sovereignty against a nation the prime minister characterized as a serial defamer of the Jewish state.
&#8220;Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us,&#8221; Netanyahu declared. &#8220;Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. Therefore, I have instructed today to remove Spain&#8217;s representatives from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel. Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region. I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price.&#8221;
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us.
Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world.
1/4 <a href="https://t.co/c95fTDNXkW">pic.twitter.com/c95fTDNXkW</a>
&mdash; Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/2042596981600596128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The expulsion from the CMCC is a significant blow to Spain’s regional influence. Established in 2025 as the &#8220;nerve center&#8221; for Gaza’s post-war stabilization, the Kiryat Gat facility coordinates international aid and monitors ceasefire compliance under the oversight of U.S. Central Command. By removing Spain, Israel has effectively stripped Madrid of its seat at the table in shaping the region’s future.
The prime minister’s firm stance was echoed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar, who described Spain’s anti-Israel bias under President Pedro Sánchez as &#8220;obsessive&#8221; and &#8220;egregious.&#8221; He stated that for a long time, the Spanish government led by Sánchez &#8220;has been operating against the State of Israel in every way possible. Sánchez and his ministers level false blood libels against Israel and its army, defame and incite against Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The government of Spain has been attempting to harm us in international institutions, including repeated &#8211; and unsuccessful &#8211; attempts to push sanctions against us in the European Union. During the war against Iran, it acted against our interests and against the interests of our ally, the United States of America.&#8221;
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For a long time, the government of Spain under <a href="https://twitter.com/sanchezcastejon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sanchezcastejon</a> has been operating against the State of Israel in every way possible. Sánchez and his ministers level false blood libels against Israel and its army, defame and incite against Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The…
&mdash; Gideon Sa&#39;ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) <a href="https://twitter.com/gidonsaar/status/2042588466026844380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Israeli MP Amichai Chikli delivered a more blistering rebuke:
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Let me remind you, Mr. Sánchez: Israel did not attack Lebanon, not on October 8 and not now. It was Hezbollah that opened fire in defense of its Iranian masters. Israel has no conflict with Lebanon. It is at war with the Iranian axis of evil, with Hezbollah, and with its enablers, including Maduro and you. You, Sánchez, chose to align yourself with this terror regime. By doing so, you have become a full partner in the oppression of the Iranian people and a full partner in the terror imposed by Hezbollah on Lebanon. 
And we will not forget how you cynically exploited the release of hostages, women and children, at the Rafah crossing to stage a public relations campaign for Hamas. Many European leaders are trapped in a profound moral vertigo that is dragging their nations toward the abyss. But in your case, this is not confusion. This is alignment. A deliberate alignment with Iran, with Hamas, with Hezbollah, with pure evil. There are no words to describe my contempt for you. You are a complete and utter zero.
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Pedro Sánchez will be remembered as the man whose face was etched by a terror regime that massacred tens of thousands of its own citizens onto a ballistic missile aimed at innocent civilians.
Let me remind you, Mr. Sánchez: Israel did not attack Lebanon, not on October 8 and not… <a href="https://t.co/71hT00WQQq">https://t.co/71hT00WQQq</a>
&mdash; עמיחי שיקלי &#8211; Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmichaiChikli/status/2042239894928474471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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This modern friction is viewed by many in Israel and elsewhere through the lens of Spain’s long and virulent history of antisemitism. For centuries, Spain has been a center of institutionalized Jewish persecution. History remembers the 1391 pogroms, in which thousands of Jews were murdered, and the infamous 1492 Alhambra Decree, which forced Jews into exile or forced conversion. Spain even pioneered &#8220;Limpieza de Sangre&#8221; (purity of blood) laws — a precursor to modern racial antisemitism — which barred those of Jewish descent from society regardless of their faith.
In recent years, the Sánchez government has revived these tensions by permanently withdrawing its ambassador from Tel Aviv and leading the charge to recognize a Palestinian state. Critics argue that Spain’s current foreign policy is merely a modern iteration of its historical hostility. By expelling Spain’s representatives, Netanyahu has sent a clear signal: Israel will no longer tolerate &#8220;hypocrisy&#8221; from a nation with such a checkered past.

Israeli PM Netanyahu Delivers Address To Joint Meeting Of U.S. Congress

Netanyahu Expels Spain From Gaza Coordination Hub: ‘I Am Not Willing To Tolerate This Hypocrisy’

antisemitism

Spain

A missile rips through the night sky — then a blinding fireball engulfs the scene as the strike hits, all caught on video.
The strike left around 75 people injured in Arad, including 10 who were seriously hurt and rushed to a hospital in Beersheba, according to <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890719">The Jerusalem Post</a>.
Arad Mayor Yair Ma’ayan said that no one who was in a shelter was injured.
Another missile struck the city of Dimona earlier on Saturday, injuring 33 people, according to first responders. Dimona is the location of the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center. Children were among the injured in the attacks.
Attempted interceptions, according to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/21/iran-hits-israeli-town-housing-nuclear-facility-in-retaliation-for-natanz-strike">Israeli military</a>, failed to stop the missiles.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show the missiles making impact and the significant damage they caused.
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🚨🎥WATCH:
Dramatic footage shows an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile striking near Dimona in Israel’s Negev Desert.
A building has collapsed, with reports of multiple injuries.
Stay connected, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/MOSSADil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MOSSADil</a>. <a href="https://t.co/lPqeDhKnWD">pic.twitter.com/lPqeDhKnWD</a>
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) <a href="https://twitter.com/MOSSADil/status/2035491000676696487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The IDF confirms a 450 kg Iranian missile hit Arad after two failed interceptions, leaving at least 70 injured and four unconscious. <a href="https://t.co/wQppxDf622">pic.twitter.com/wQppxDf622</a>
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/2035469580248748290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Overhead drone footage from United Hatzalah shows the level of destruction caused to several residential buildings in the Southern Israeli city of Arad, following the direct impact earlier of a medium-range ballistic missile launched by Iran. <a href="https://t.co/GfB2B0gomG">pic.twitter.com/GfB2B0gomG</a>
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2035480000355307638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2035473053703168504">statement</a> on Saturday evening following the attacks.
“This is a very difficult evening in the battle for our future. A short time ago, I spoke with the mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, and asked him to convey, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, our prayers for the peace of the wounded. I instructed the Director General of my ministry to provide all necessary assistance, along with all government ministries,” Netanyahu said. “I am strengthening the emergency and rescue forces currently operating in the field and I call on everyone to obey the Home Front Command&#8217;s instructions.”
“We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts,” the prime minister concluded.
Israel&#8217;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement calling the Iranian attack a &#8220;blatant war crime.&#8221;
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The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism. <a href="https://t.co/e0kpFpdZ6n">pic.twitter.com/e0kpFpdZ6n</a>
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelMFA/status/2035478814445224149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The missile attacks come as U.S.-Israeli strikes continue to decimate military targets and eliminate political and military leaders in Iran. As the war drags on, the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil transits, has emerged as a major flashpoint as Iran threatens passing vessels.
Hours before the strikes, the IDF said it had targeted a key Iranian military research facility tied to the regime’s ballistic missile program and efforts to develop nuclear weapon components — underscoring the growing stakes on both sides.

VIDEO: Iranian Missile Screams Over Israel, Explosion Injures Dozens, Including Children

In a vicious attack on President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the U.S.-Israel relationship, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called for rethinking the American support for Israel, vilified Israel as an apartheid state, and ripped into Trump.
Speaking with former Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor during an event to promote his autobiography, “Young Man in a Hurry,” Newsom was asked whether Democrats should reconsider U.S. military aid to Israel in light of Netanyahu&#8217;s leadership.
“Well, he&#8217;s making that easy right now,” Newsom began, as he started maligning Netanyahu. “The issue of Bibi is interesting. Because he&#8217;s got his own domestic issues. He&#8217;s trying to stay out of jail. He&#8217;s got an election coming up. He&#8217;s potentially on the ropes. He&#8217;s got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank.”
Newsom then quoted the infamously anti-Netanyahu New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to traduce Israel with the leftist false claim of Israel moving toward &#8220;an apartheid state,&#8221; adding, &#8220;For two years, they haven&#8217;t even been able to solve the Hamas question in Israel.”
He turned to implying that Trump attacked Iran because of Israel.
“In so many ways, that influence in the context of the conversation of where Trump ultimately landed on this is pretty damn self-evident,&#8221; said Newsom. &#8220;When you bring two aircraft carriers out there and you assemble the kind of military force that Trump did over the last few weeks, it didn&#8217;t surprise me ultimately that they moved that direction.”
The governor was asked, “Do you think, looking down the road, that the United States should consider, maybe, you know, rethinking our military support for Israel?”
Newsom then offered his crocodile tears: “It breaks my heart because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path where I don&#8217;t think you have a choice but that consideration.&#8221;
He also referenced what he characterized as &#8220;the grift and the corruption&#8221; connected to broader regional dynamics, naming members of the Trump family, including the president&#8217;s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“The fact that we are in this now, a regional war. All these proxies and all the grift and the corruption that also marks a huge part of this,” he said. “And that&#8217;s a real conversation we need to have, this Board of Peace. In the piece that the Witkoff family is getting, in the piece that Kushner is getting, in the peace that Trump Jr. is getting.”
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NEW 
Tonight, at a book event in Los Angeles, Governor Gavin Newsom said that the United States is being pushed by Israel into a position where it may have to reconsider military support.
Newsom said that those who say Israel is an apartheid state are doing so “appropriately.”… <a href="https://t.co/6UUBEH7hYD">pic.twitter.com/6UUBEH7hYD</a>
&mdash; Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/2029104738818789739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Governor Newsom blasts Trump over strikes on Iran

‘APARTHEID STATE’: Newsom Trashes Israel, Vilifies Netanyahu, Claims Trump Strikes Driven By ‘Grift’

Apartheid

Gavin Newsom

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