{"id":323395,"date":"2026-02-20T08:50:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T08:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=323395"},"modified":"2026-02-22T08:37:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T08:37:17","slug":"netanyahus-power-play-manipulating-trump-american-jews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=323395","title":{"rendered":"Netanyahu\u2019s power play: Manipulating Trump, American Jews"},"content":{"rendered":"

Al Mayadeen \u2013 Sept 18, 2026<\/strong><\/h1>\n

“Israel\u2019s” far-right government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is boldly defying US interests while pretending all is well. In his New York Times<\/em> column, Thomas L. Friedman argues that Netanyahu is manipulating both US President Trump and American Jewish communities, warning that if the US does not respond, it risks being made a fool.<\/p>\n

While Trump remains focused on Iran\u2019s nuclear and missile programs, an issue that still requires careful diplomacy, Netanyahu is pursuing policies that undermine US strategic interests across the Middle East and jeopardize Jewish security worldwide, according to Friedman. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, cited by the writer, recently described armed settlers\u2019 violent efforts<\/a> in the West Bank aimed at forcing Palestinians from their homes<\/a>, a precursor to “annexation”.<\/p>\n

“Israel\u2019s” moves to “annex” parts of the West Bank and maintain permanent control over Gaza, while denying Palestinians political rights, are morally reckless and demographically unsustainable. Friedman compares the policy to the US attempting to annex Mexico<\/a>, noting that such ambitions threaten not only “Israel” but also global Jewish security and American interests in the region.<\/p>\n

The policies of Netanyahu\u2019s government are creating deep rifts within Jewish institutions worldwide. Members of the diaspora are increasingly forced to choose between supporting “Israel” or standing by democratic principles. Friedman highlights that these tensions are influencing US public opinion, as many young Americans<\/a>, both Democrats and Republicans, become more critical of “Israel”.<\/p>\n

Shifting political attitudes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Recent polling underscores a shift in US attitudes<\/a> toward “Israel”. According to a November survey by the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, 51% of Republicans under 45 prefer a 2028 presidential candidate who would reduce weapons transfers to “Israel”, while only 27% support maintaining or increasing aid. Friedman also cites Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s comments at the Munich Security Conference, noting that unconditional US support enabled atrocities in Gaza, reflecting growing skepticism among young progressives.<\/p>\n

Netanyahu has redirected attention to Iran, allowing destabilizing actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and within “Israel” to go largely unchecked. Friedman explains that this strategy strains US relations with key Middle Eastern allies, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and Qatar.<\/p>\n

In Friedman’s view, the internal threat to what he terms “Israel\u2019s democracy” is significant. Netanyahu has pursued judicial reforms that weaken the Supreme Court\u2019s authority<\/a>, politicize civil service, and exempt ultra-Orthodox Israelis from military service, all of which undermine what he terms the “rule of law.” Friedman emphasizes that these moves endanger what he terms “Israel\u2019s democratic institutions and long-term stability.”<\/p>\n

Despite what the author describes as “Israel\u2019s” military strength and technological prowess, Netanyahu\u2019s refusal to negotiate a “two-state” solution<\/a> blocks potential “peace” with the Arab world. Friedman claims that a serious “peace initiative” could isolate Iran, strengthen regional alliances, and serve US strategic interests, including reducing military commitments while shifting focus toward China.<\/p>\n

‘Annexation’ clashes with US policy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Netanyahu\u2019s annexationist ambitions conflict directly with “Trump\u2019s 20-point peace plan.” Remarks by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich about encouraging Palestinian expulsion, coupled with Arab allies and Turkey publicly condemning “Israel\u2019s” West Bank land designations, illustrate the tension. The author warns that “de facto annexation” fuels regional war, claiming that this benefits “Iran rather than American interests.”<\/p>\n

“Iran is not the greatest threat to Israel as a democracy governed by the rule of law<\/a>. It is not the greatest threat to US-Israeli relations. It is not the greatest threat to the unity and security of Jews around the world. It is not the reason so many talented Israeli technologists, engineers, and doctors are moving away. And it is not the biggest reason Israel is becoming an apartheid state, by not only refusing to try anymore to create a separate Palestinian state but by working instead to make that impossible,” Friedman declared.<\/p>\n

“That title goes to the government of messianic zealots, Arab-hating nationalists, and anti-modern ultra-Orthodox Israelis put together by Benjamin Netanyahu to keep himself in power,” the three-time Pulitzer Prize winner concluded.<\/p>\n

Source\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prominent US Jewish journalist warns that Netanyahu is manipulating President Trump and U.S. Jews. Ultimately, he argues, Netanyahu\u2019s policies threaten the continued existence of Israel itself <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39262,"featured_media":292021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-323395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-Commentary","category-Israel_Anti-Semitism_Zionism_and_US-UK_allies"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/39262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=323395"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":323399,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323395\/revisions\/323399"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/292021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=323395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=323395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=323395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}