President Donald Trump said there would be no Israel without him during a G7 foreign ministers meeting in France [1].
The remarks signal a deepening rift between the U.S. administration and the Israeli government over military strategy in the Middle East. Trump's criticism focuses on the potential for Israeli actions to derail broader diplomatic goals regarding Iran.
Speaking in Évian-les-Bains on June 11, 2024 [1], Trump said Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israeli strikes in Lebanon. He said that these military actions could jeopardize the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal [1]. The president emphasized that the current stability of the region is tied to his personal involvement in diplomacy.
Trump suggested a shift in the regional approach to combatting Hezbollah. He said, "We need Israel to step aside and let Syria do the job to finish off Hezbollah" [3]. This approach suggests a preference for Syrian-led operations over direct Israeli intervention in Lebanon.
Despite the friction with Netanyahu, Trump maintained a hard line toward Tehran. He said, "all hell will rain down on Iran if it makes a nuclear weapon" [2]. This comment underscores a strategy of combining aggressive deterrence with a desire to avoid unplanned escalations that could collapse negotiations.
Reports on the exact wording of the president's claim vary. Some sources said he said, "There would be no Israel without me" [1], while others report he included the United States in the statement, saying, "Without the US and me, there would be no Israel" [4].
“"There would be no Israel without me."”
This public rebuke of Prime Minister Netanyahu represents a departure from traditional U.S.-Israel diplomatic cohesion. By linking the very existence of the Israeli state to his own leadership and urging Israel to defer to Syria in the fight against Hezbollah, Trump is signaling that U.S. support is conditional on Israeli compliance with his specific regional strategy and the preservation of the U.S.-Iran nuclear framework.
