Netanyahu hints criticism of Trump on inaction against Iran

Netanyahu told ministers recently that Trump will not do anything against Iran at least until the 2020 U.S. election, says Channel 13.

By World Israel News Staff 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leveled thinly-veiled criticism of his longtime ally U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday regarding Iran, after reportedly telling security cabinet ministers that at least until the 2020 American presidential election, Washington would not strike back against Iranian aggression.

“Iran’s threshold of brazenness in the region is rising and is getting even stronger in the absence of a response,” the prime minister said Thursday at a military ceremony in southern Israel.

He vowed that for its part, “Israel will not turn the other cheek,” and would respond “with full force” against anyone “bent on aggression.”

Netanyahu’s criticism over what he perceives as American inaction has been building up “inside him” over recent months, according to a report on Israeli Channel 13 TV.

Though imposing sanctions against Tehran after pulling the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, Trump is reportedly seen in Jerusalem as unwilling to take military action to fend off the Islamic Republic’s regional aggression.

In June, Trump confirmed that a military strike against Iran as an apparent retaliation for the downing of an American surveillance drone was called off  “10 minutes” before it was to be carried out.

“We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it,” Trump tweeted at the time.

“[N]ot proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry,” the president added.

Netanyahu reportedly has told his security cabinet ministers that they should take seriously Trump’s words that he is not in a rush to act against Iranian aggression in the region, ranging from attacks on foreign tankers and seizures of vessels in waterways to its buildup in Iraq and ongoing entrenchment in Syria.

At an Israeli security cabinet meeting which took place in recent weeks to discuss the Iranian threat, Netanyahu “made clear…to his ministers that at least until the [2020] election in the United States – Trump will not do anything against Iran, and Israel will have to grapple [with the threat] alone,” reported Channel 13 on Thursday.