Netanyahu was ‘not enthusiastic’ about Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem, says Kushner

“Trump began to second-guess his decision and wondered aloud why he was taking this risk if the Israeli prime minister didn’t think it was that important,” wrote Kushner in his new book.

By World Israel News Staff

Jared Kushner, former president Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, claims in his new book that Israel’s then-prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, responded unenthusiasticly when Trump revealed his decision to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as the capital of Israel, reported The Forward.

Kushner, in his book “Breaking History: A White House Memoir,” asserted that Trump was very disappointed after hearing Netanyahu’s reaction during a phone call.

He claimed that as a result, Trump nearly reversed his decision to move the embassy.

Upon hearing Trump’s decision, Netanyahu said, “If you choose to do that, I will support you,” according to Kushner.

Trump then repeated his intention to move the embassy and recognize Jerusalem, but “Bibi responded with less-than-expected enthusiasm,” Kushner wrote.

At that point, he continued, “Trump began to second-guess his decision and wondered aloud why he was taking this risk if the Israeli prime minister didn’t think it was that important.”

According to Kushner, Trump then told Netanyahu “Bibi, I think you are the problem,” to which Netanyahu responded that he was in fact “part of the solution.”

Kushner wrote that Trump appeared to be “frustrated” by the exchange with Netanyahu but could not provide an explanation as to why Netanyahu reacted so coolly to the big news.

Netanyahu’s staff provided the following response to Kushner’s claims:

“Contrary to what was claimed, Prime Minister Netanyahu, who asked President Trump to move the embassy several times, expressed great appreciation for this decision.

“President Trump told Prime Minister Netanyahu, before making the decision: ‘I have people who say that this step is dangerous for the United States, what do you think?’

“Netanyahu replied to the president that he sees no real danger and that there is no reason not to move the embassy.

“It is doubtful that if Prime Minister Netanyahu had responded to the president otherwise, the transfer of the embassy would have been carried out.”

Benjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpJared KushnerJerusalem embassyUS Mideast policyUS-Israel relations