Israeli source downplays acrimony of Trump-Netanyahu call, after vulgar quote leaked

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Illustrative: In this October 23, 2020 photo, then-US president Donald Trump talks on a phone during a call with the leaders of Sudan and Israel in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Illustrative: In this October 23, 2020 photo, then-US president Donald Trump talks on a phone during a call with the leaders of Sudan and Israel in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

After an Axios report about a tense phone call Friday between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli source tells The Times of Israel that there was a disagreement, but that it wasn’t acrimonious.

“Bibi wasn’t happy with the Hamas response” to Trump’s plan, says the source. “That’s all. He didn’t think it was a yes.”

“There was a push [from Trump] to accept it and move forward.”

The sources add that calls between the two leaders are usually arranged at the last minute and with very little preparation ahead of time.

Axios reported earlier that, on the call, Trump told Netanyahu: “I don’t know why you’re always so fucking negative,” responded Trump, per the official. “This is a win. Take it.”

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