Former Israeli PM Warns: Washington No Longer Our Closest Ally Because Of Conservative Netanyahu

  • by:
  • Source: Wayne Dupree
  • 07/18/2023
According to reports, former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has warned that Washington is "no longer our closest ally" because of the way his country's relations with the US have deteriorated under Netanyahu's rule.

According to the Times of Israel, Lapid made the remarks on Monday during a meeting of his Yesh Atid opposition party's faction. He argued that by attempting to pass divisive judicial reforms, Netanyahu's administration is jeopardizing the alliance with the US.

With the largest and most significant changes to the regime in our history, the Israeli government is "leading us into this crisis without holding a single discussion - not even one - about the economic, security, social, and political consequences of the move," Lapid claimed. He asserted that the nation is "torn in two" in an interview with Channel 12 news.

"The Americans claim that this government does not share their values. It has an impact on all facets of US-Israeli relations, including their focus and willingness to put American interests ahead of their own. They won't do it for the most extreme government in the nation's history, according to Lapid, who also noted that ties with the US are at an all-time low. 

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In March, US President Joe Biden expressed his "very concern" for Israel's democracy following months of demonstrations against the proposed judicial reform. He then said, "I'm worried they get this straight. They are unable to go on like this.

In response, Netanyahu stated that Israel is a sovereign nation and that its decisions are "not based on pressures from abroad" but rather on the wishes of its citizens. According to Itamar Ben-Gvir, his national security minister, Biden "needs to understand that Israel is no longer a star on the US flag." I expect the US president to recognize that we are a democracy.

More recently, West Jerusalem's endorsement of a Jewish-only settlement in the occupied West Bank drew criticism from the Biden administration. Biden attacked the Israeli cabinet earlier this month, calling it "extreme" and "part of the problem" in the Palestinian conflict.

But on Monday, Biden finally invited Netanyahu to the White House later in the year. Prior to being overthrown in June 2021 by a coalition led by Lapid, Netanyahu served as prime minister of Israel for 12 years. The fifth parliamentary election in four years, held in December 2022, saw him retake office.

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