Netanyahu calls Trump ‘greatest friend’ Israel has ever had, backs plan for Gaza

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called President Donald Trump “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House” during a Fox News interview. He also backed Trump’s proposal to permanently resettle displaced Palestinians outside Gaza, calling it “the first fresh idea in years.”
• Netanyahu praised Trump for resuming U.S. weapons deliveries to Israel and reaffirmed his commitment to “destroy Hamas.”
• He highlighted Trump’s past support for Israel, including recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, moving the U.S. embassy and brokering the Abraham Accords.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Donald Trump as “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House” during a Fox News interview Saturday, Feb. 8. He also backed Trump’s proposal to permanently resettle displaced Palestinians outside Gaza, calling it “the first fresh idea in years” to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Why does Netanyahu say Trump is Israel’s “greatest friend“?

Speaking with host Mark Levin on “Life, Liberty & Levin,” Netanyahu credited Trump with strengthening U.S.-Israel relations to “beyond anything we’ve seen up to now.” He called the former president “a great leader for America and the world” and emphasized that Israel has “no greater friend than America, especially under President Trump’s leadership.”

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Netanyahu also dismissed negative pre-election polling that showed Trump trailing in popularity. “That’s exactly what you have in the fake polls in Israel,” he said.

What is Trump’s proposal for Gaza and why does Netanyahu support it?

Trump, speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 4, proposed permanently resettling displaced Palestinians outside Gaza and suggested the U.S. should take “ownership” of the territory.

Netanyahu strongly supported the plan. He called it “the first fresh idea in years” and stating it had “the potential to change everything in Gaza.” He criticized past diplomatic efforts as “same old, same old” and argued that a new approach was necessary.

How does Netanyahu plan to handle Hamas?

Netanyahu reiterated that his government’s goal is to “destroy Hamas.” He claimed there is “wide agreement” on Capitol Hill for this approach, including from both Republicans and Democrats.

The Israeli prime minister also praised Trump for resuming U.S. weapons deliveries to Israel, calling it crucial in their “seven-front war against our common enemies.” He added, “I don’t seek wars, I seek to end wars.”

What has Trump done for Israel in the past?

Netanyahu listed multiple actions from Trump’s presidency that benefited Israel:

• Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
• Moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
• Recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
• Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.
• Brokering the Abraham Accords, securing peace between Israel and four Arab nations in just four months, an achievement Netanyahu noted “didn’t happen in 25 years.”

Netanyahu also praised Trump’s recent return to office, stating, “In the first two weeks, he did everything that he promised to do.”

Why did Netanyahu give Trump a gold-plated pager?

Netanyahu revealed that he gifted Trump a gold-plated pager, a nod to Israel’s September military operation. He explained that Trump values decisive action:

“He likes surprises. He likes to surprise the world,” Netanyahu said. “Well, we surprised the world, and we certainly surprise our enemies.”

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While opposing immediate Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu still expressed optimism about long-term peace in the region, but only through “peace through strength.”