https://www.dn.se/varlden/emma-bouvin-netanyahu-hoppades-pa-en-klapp-fick-en-orfil/
Emma Bouvin: Netanyahu hoped for a pat – got a slap in the face
Updated 2025-04-08 Published 2025-04-07
Photo: Pool/TT
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rushed to Washington hoping for another pat on the head from President Trump. But the pat turned out to be more of an earful when Trump happily talked about negotiations with Iran and praised the Turkish president – who, among other things, compared Netanyahu to Hitler.
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Everything looked so promising.
Benjamin Netanyahu had not intended to go straight from his meeting with Hungary's Orbán to the White House, but when Trump calls, he obeys. Among other things, the trip meant that he had to take a detour to avoid the risk of passing through countries that could act on the international arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Court of Justice – but he could live with that. It gave him the opportunity to send out a new, proud press release that contained the words "Trump" and "first leader ever", as he was the first to visit the White House after the US decision on trade tariffs.
The memory of the previous trip across the Atlantic was probably also strengthening. Netanyahu was the "first leader ever" to meet Trump after he took office as president for the second time. The relationship had been a bit shaky, Trump slandered Netanyahu quite a lot after October 7, 2023, but then, in February, all old grudges were forgotten. Trump gave Netanyahu a signed photo of the two of them together. He promised the Israeli prime minister gold and green forests, and to annex Gaza to build luxury hotels where they could both sunbathe together.
This time it was different.
To begin with, the White House cancelled the planned joint press conference between the two leaders. Instead, there was a short question-and-answer session in the Oval Office after the two had lunch. There, the Israeli prime minister promised to immediately eliminate all Israeli trade tariffs against the United States – something he could easily do, since Israel had already made that decision a week ago.
But then Trump spoke up and announced that the US was holding direct talks with Israel's arch-enemy Iran. Not only that: a "big meeting" is scheduled for Saturday. This does not fit with Israel's desire to bomb Iran to stop its nuclear program, although Trump also indirectly said that it would be "very dangerous" for Iran to fail in the current talks.
Trump was then asked whether he intended to abolish the tariffs on Israel. They are at 17 percent, slightly higher than the minimum level of 10 percent – which other US allies have been subject to, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
– Well, maybe, or maybe not. Now don't forget that we help Israel a lot. You know, we give Israel four billion every year. That's a lot. Congratulations, by the way, said Trump, looking at Netanyahu who was laughing nervously.
The conversation about Gaza was easier terrain, even if it took place in a parallel reality, or perhaps because of that. Trump claimed it was absolutely insane that Israel "which used to own Gaza" had "given it away." He also talked about how it is incredibly valuable land and that he envisions it becoming a "free zone," but that the Palestinians should move somewhere else because right now it is "a dangerous death trap."
Netanyahu, for his part, talked about how Israel has "never" stopped anyone from leaving Gaza, that it is actually unreasonable behaviour – by Hamas. He did not mention, for example, that it was Israel that bombed Gaza's only functioning airport during the second intifada, or that very few have been allowed to leave Gaza via Israeli territory over the past 1.5 years.
Finally, Trump was asked about his view of the conflict between Israel and Turkey in Syria.
– I have a wonderful relationship with Erdogan. I like him a lot, I know it upsets a lot of people. I recently congratulated him on what he has done in Syria. I said, "Congratulations, you have done what no one has done in 2,000 years, you have taken over Syria! I know it was you!" He said, "Yeah, haha, maybe it was me," Trump said, chuckling.
Then he turned to Benjamin Netanyahu, the man Erdogan has likened to Hitler, leader of the country that the Turkish president said a week ago should be crushed.
– If you have a problem with Turkey, Bibi, I can probably solve it. It probably won't be a problem. But you have to be reasonable too!
Curtain.
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