An Israeli journalist said that former US President Donald Trump insulted his old friend, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and believed that had it not been for his recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights in 2019, Netanyahu would not have won the legislative elections at the time.

Trump expressed his views in an interview with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, who published a few days ago the book "Trump's Peace: Abraham's Accords and Reshaping the Middle East."

Today, Friday, the Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, headlined its front page by quoting Trump's insult in English.

Today, Ravid himself published an article about the interview on the American “Axios” website, saying, “Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu were the closest political allies in the four years that we were together in office, at least in public places,” and added, “It is no longer the case.” Also, Trump said about the former Israeli prime minister: I haven't spoken to him since then... (and then cursed him with a profanity).

"Trump criticized Netanyahu repeatedly during two interviews for my book," Ravid added, "The last straw for Trump was when Netanyahu congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his election victory, while Trump was still opposing the result."

Trump was quoted as saying, "The first person to congratulate (Biden) was (Benjamin) Bibi Netanyahu, the man I've done more for than I've done for anyone else I've ever dealt with... He (Bibi) could have stayed silent. He made a huge mistake."

Trump criticized Netanyahu "repeatedly" during his interview with the Israeli journalist (Reuters)

Anger and reasons

Trump also felt that he helped ensure Netanyahu's political survival, but he did not get the same in return, and expressed his anger at the video in which Netanyahu congratulated Biden.

Trump was quoted as saying, "I loved Bibi (i.e. Netanyahu), I still love Bibi, but I also love loyalty. Bibi was the first person to congratulate Biden; not only did he congratulate him, he did it on tape."

In the interview, Trump stated that while the likes of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Russian President Vladimir Putin "felt" that the "election was rigged", Netanyahu acknowledged Biden's victory.

The former US president said, "As for Bibi (Netanyahu), before the ink dried, he sent a message, not just a message, he recorded a video of Joe Biden talking about their great and great friendship. They had no friendship, because if they were friends, (the administration of the former US president) would not have concluded Barack Obama when Biden was his deputy) the deal with Iran (5+1 agreement in 2015), and guess what, now they will do it again,” referring to renewed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

Trump has repeatedly pointed out that he has done more for Israel and Netanyahu than any other president.

He referred to his decisions to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal, move the US embassy to Jerusalem, keep US forces in the region, and recognize the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel.