Clinton Criticises Trump and Netanyahu, Calls for Tougher US Position on Israel

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sharply criticised the governments and policies of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while stressing that her opposition to their administrations does not extend to the United States or Israel.

Speaking on MS NOW’s Morning Joe on Thursday, Clinton said she loves both America and Israel but disagrees strongly with the policies pursued by their current governments.

“I love Israel and I hate Netanyahu’s government and his policies. I love America, and I hate Trump’s government and policies,” Clinton said, according to Fox News. She argued that the policies of Netanyahu’s government were damaging to Israel and that developments under the Trump administration were harmful to the United States.

Much of Clinton’s criticism focused on Israel’s handling of the conflict with Hamas and the broader prospects for peace in the Middle East. She called for Washington to adopt a tougher position toward the Israeli government, particularly over the treatment of Palestinians and violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Clinton also referred to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz alleging that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu about a planned major Hamas offensive roughly 10 days before the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Clinton questioned whether Netanyahu had failed to act on the alleged warning or had chosen to wait and see what Hamas would do. She acknowledged, however, that she did not know what Netanyahu’s thinking was at the time.

“This was a failure of leadership,” Clinton said, arguing that the Israeli government had failed to adequately protect its citizens.

The allegation about the UAE warning has been rejected by Netanyahu’s office. According to Fox News, the prime minister’s office said the reports were false and that no warning had been given to Netanyahu by the UAE before the October 7 attacks. It said any relevant intelligence would have been communicated through official intelligence channels between the two countries.

Clinton said the United States could work with a future Israeli government if Israeli voters choose new leadership. She particularly called for stronger action against settler violence in the West Bank, saying there should be no impunity for such acts.

She argued that unchecked violence against Palestinians could have wider consequences for Israeli society and security, describing the issue as harmful both to Palestinians and to Israel itself.

The Biden-era secretary of state also discussed developments within the Democratic Party, including the growing influence of socialist ideas. She urged Democrats to move beyond political slogans and concentrate on legislation and achieving measurable results.

Meanwhile, a White House official defended the US-Israel relationship, saying Trump maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu and that Israel remains a key American ally. The official also praised the Israel Defense Forces for their cooperation with the United States during the military operation described by the administration as Operation Epic Fury.

Source: Fox News original report⁠