Liberman laments ‘unprecedented low’ in US-Israel relations

Israel has “reached an unprecedented low” in its relations with the United States, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman declares, arguing that Jerusalem is being sidelined when it comes to American policy in the Middle East.

While he welcomes the pending release of hostage Edan Alexander, Liberman emphasizes that “unfortunately, his return is not happening as a result of Israeli pressure or a decision, but as a result of direct contacts between the US and Hamas.”

Addressing reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Liberman bemoans “the [US] ceasefire with the Houthis when the State of Israel is left out of the agreement, the US president’s visit to the region when he skips Israel, [and] the direct negotiations between the US and Iran.”

There are other challenges as well “but we cannot elaborate about that,” he adds cryptically.

“The main problem is that Netanyahu does not want to end the war, he does not want to and is unable to eliminate Hamas. One who did not eliminate Hamas in a year and seven months will not do so in 17 years,” Liberman continues, adding that “eliminating Hamas requires broad national consensus and unity among the people.”

“People need to believe in the justice of the path and the war’s goals,” Liberman says, stressing that in order to unite the people and reach a victory against Hamas, “we must return all the hostages in one fell swoop.”