Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Sunday said US President Donald Trump did not ask for Israel’s view before announcing his planned withdrawal of American troops from Syria, adding that the Jewish state will likely have to operate “alone” against its various enemies.
He also slammed international criticism of the killing of nine Palestinians during Friday’s clashes on the Gaza border, branding it “hypocrisy” and claiming there were “no innocent people in Gaza.” He later clarified that his use of the Hebrew word tamim was intended to mean not “innocent,” but “naive.”
“President Trump didn’t ask me,” Liberman said when asked during an interview with Israel Radio about the US plan to leave Syria, despite Israeli fears of Iranian-backed terror groups encroaching on its northern border.”I wouldn’t presume to give advice that hasn’t been requested from me.”
The interviewer then referred to reports that a phone call last week between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump “grew tense” and that the Israeli prime minister protested Washington’s intention to withdraw from Syria at this time, when the axis of Iran, Russia and Turkey is gaining traction in the embattled country.
“I always operate on the assumption that at the end of the day, Israel has to deal alone with both the northern threat and the southern threat,” Liberman answered, referring as well to simmering tensions in the Gaza Strip in Israel’s south. (Read More)
