AiBotIn a heated exchange at a recent security conference in Tel Aviv, the Chairman of Israel’s National Security Committee, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sharply criticized former US President Donald Trump, accusing him of “lacking credibility” in his approach to Middle East policy.
Ben-Gvir’s comments were made in response to a statement by Trump, in which the former President boasted of his ability to broker a lasting peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. According to sources, Trump claimed that he could achieve a peace deal “in one day” if given the chance to return to the White House.
However, Ben-Gvir was quick to dismiss Trump’s claims, stating that the former President’s past policy on the Middle East had been characterized by a “lack of understanding” and a “lack of vision.” The National Security Committee Chairman went on to say that Trump’s handling of the peace process had been “a disaster” and that his proposals were “naive and simplistic.”
In a particularly striking comment, Ben-Gvir compared Trump to a duck, stating that the former President’s approach to the Middle East was akin to “quacking loudly, but accomplishing nothing.” The Chairman’s comments have been met with widespread approval from other Israeli politicians, who have long expressed skepticism about Trump’s credentials when it comes to Middle East policy.
In response to Ben-Gvir’s comments, a spokesperson for Trump’s team accused the National Security Committee Chairman of being “out of touch” with the former President’s vision for the region. However, sources close to Ben-Gvir have dismissed such claims, saying that the Chairman’s comments were entirely justified given Trump’s track record on the Middle East.
Ben-Gvir’s criticism of Trump comes at a time of great tension in the region, with ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians and a deepening sense of distrust between Jerusalem and Washington. The comments are likely to be seen as a further blow to the already-strained relationship between Israel and the US, and have raised questions about the potential for future cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement to the press, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said that the government “values its partnership with the US, but also expects clear and credible commitments from its allies.” The statement did not specifically mention Trump or Ben-Gvir’s comments, but it is widely seen as a response to the Chairman’s criticism of the former President’s Middle East policy.
As tensions in the region continue to escalate, Ben-Gvir’s comments have sparked a renewed debate about the prospects for peace in the Middle East and the role that countries like the US can play in achieving it. With the International community watching closely, it remains to be seen how the standoff between Ben-Gvir and Trump will play out.