Netanyahu Criticizes UK Government, Faces Electoral Challenges Ahead of Israel Vote
In an interview, the Israeli Prime Minister expressed anger over Britain's sanctions on West Bank settlements and discussed his political standing amidst upcoming elections.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced strong criticism of the United Kingdom's Labour government, labeling it a "mind-blowing" and a "rogue state" for its recent actions regarding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. In an interview with the Daily Mail's Deep Dive podcast, Netanyahu expressed fury over Britain's sanctions and its recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that the UK is caving to domestic pressure and appeasing an "Islamist leftist alliance."
Middle East correspondent Natalie Lisbona, who conducted the exclusive interview, reported that Netanyahu highlighted the historically close security and intelligence relationship between Israel and Britain. He stated that Israeli intelligence has saved many British lives, making the UK government's stance particularly perplexing. "He told me that Israel's intelligence had saved many British lives. Israelis find it mind-blowing that Britain can continue benefiting from Israeli intelligence and security cooperation, while the Government continues to attack them," Lisbona said.
Electoral Pressures Mount
Netanyahu's remarks come as Israel approaches a critical election, with his party currently trailing in most polls. Guy Azriel, diplomatic correspondent for i24NEWS, joined Lisbona on the podcast to discuss the political landscape. Azriel described Netanyahu as the "magician of Israeli politics," known for his ability to remain in power, but acknowledged the significant challenges he faces in this election, the first since the October 7th attacks.
These attacks, Azriel noted, dealt a considerable blow to Netanyahu's image as "Mr Security." The upcoming election is expected to focus heavily on the war and Israel's global standing and self-defense capabilities. "For many of his voters, the question is: 'Who is best suited to deal with the challenges post October 7th?' In that respect, Netanyahu still has some strong arguments against his political rivals," Azriel explained.
Potential Challengers and International Relations
Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, who resigned from Netanyahu's war cabinet over the handling of the Gaza war, is identified as a key challenger. Azriel characterized Eisenkot as a "very moderate guy" who might adopt a less hawkish stance on the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, a position that right-wing Israeli voters might oppose.
The podcast also touched upon the potential preferences of former U.S. President Donald Trump, with Azriel suggesting Trump would likely prefer Netanyahu to remain in office. The two leaders share common goals regarding Iran, despite past disagreements on potential peace deals. "Trump and Netanyahu enjoy a long-lasting friendship and a very powerful cooperation," Azriel stated. He added that some Western leaders might anticipate that Eisenkot could be more easily influenced to pursue less hardline policies, which would be unfavorable to Israeli right-wing voters. Azriel also noted that Trump trusts Netanyahu's approach to the Iranian issue, seeing economic pressure as a potential means to destabilize the regime in the absence of a diplomatic solution.