Netanyahu: Trump is a great friend, but I know how to stand my ground

While praising US President Donald Trump for his partnership against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares that he knows how to stand up against Israel’s closest allies when he must.

“I have great appreciation for President Trump,” says Netanyahu at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. “He is a great friend of ours in the White House. I greatly appreciate the historic partnership with the United States against Iran’s attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. And I want to emphasize again: With an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”

“Unlike all those who preach to us, we are doing what needs to be done for Israel’s security, and we can and know how to stand our ground even against our very best friends when necessary,” he says.

Netanyahu rejected the Trump-backed 15-point plan for Gaza in the same meeting. Hamas still retains the ability to mount an assault on Israel, he claims.

“It may attack, but why have long weeks gone by without it attacking us? Because it knows what a powerful blow we will inflict on it if it does,” says Netanyahu.

The prime minister’s tough talk comes as the election season ramps up, and he has come under attack for letting Trump dictate what Israel does against its enemies.

“Regarding Lebanon — here too we are hearing all kinds of rumors,” he says. “I want to make it clear: in recent days, Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including in the Ali al-Taher ridge. I cannot elaborate on this. We are engaged in a very important operation. We are acting with sound judgment and wisdom.”

Netanyahu says that “the security of all Israel’s citizens is not up for negotiation. We stand firm on these interests.”

“We are not doing this in advertising agencies,” he says in a dig at his political rivals. “We are doing it for real, on the ground.”