Unrepentant Netanyahu provokes: Khamenei would still be alive if I listened to advice - Trump is not the boss

In one of his most aggressive interventions since the start of the war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his government's genocidal and blood-soaked strategy and insisted that Israel will continue to act solely on the basis of its own security interests, regardless of international pressure. This comes as a response to a recent statement by US President Donald Trump that "Netanyahu knows who the boss is," implying that he is applying pressure for a ceasefire in South Lebanon so as not to call into question the agreement with Iran, which includes the provision of a full ceasefire.

During the cabinet meeting on Sunday, July 5, Benjamin Netanyahu categorically denied reports according to which US President Donald Trump had asked him not to proceed with operations against Hezbollah's underground tunnels in Lebanon. "I heard it said that Donald Trump asked me not to act against the terrorists' tunnels in Lebanon. This is a myth and fake news. He never told me such a thing, nor did I ask him. We act based on our own assessments," he said. This stance comes at a time when scenarios are circulating regarding increased American pressure on Israel to de-escalate operations both in Gaza and on the northern border with Lebanon.

"Iran is attempting to oust us from southern Lebanon"

Benjamin Netanyahu directly accused Tehran of attempting to undermine Israel's strategic presence in southern Lebanon, using both Hezbollah and political pressure on Beirut and the international community. "Iran wants to expel us from southern Lebanon. It is trying to influence the United States and exert pressure on the Lebanese government. We consider maintaining the security zone to be one of our most important strategic achievements, and we are not going to abandon it," he stated. The statement takes on particular significance as Israel seeks to maintain a buffer zone along the northern border, arguing that Hezbollah's presence near the border poses a direct threat to its national security.

"No reconstruction of Gaza without full disarmament"

The Israeli prime minister reiterated that the post-war reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will not begin unless the military capabilities of Hamas are first completely destroyed. "There will be no reconstruction without demilitarization and full disarmament of the Gaza Strip," he argued, adding that residents of the area should be able to leave Gaza if they wish, while those who remain should not pose a threat to Israel. This position lies at the core of the Israeli strategy for the "day after" in Gaza, although it has provoked strong reactions from Arab countries and international organizations, which argue that reconstruction and humanitarian aid cannot be linked to political or military conditions.

"If I had listened to my critics, all of them would still be alive"

Benjamin Netanyahu attacked former members of the war cabinet Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot with particularly harsh language, claiming that at the beginning of the war they proposed accepting Hamas's terms, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and re-examining the issue two or three years later. "If I had listened to their advice, today Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and the leader of Iran would still be alive," he declared, attempting to present his strategy as the one that led to the neutralization of key leadership figures among Israel's opponents. With this statement, Netanyahu attempted to attribute the blows suffered by the so-called "Axis of Resistance"—the network of organizations and allies supported by Iran in the region—to his government's military operations.

Attack on the media and the political system

The Israeli prime minister also turned against the media, accusing them of functioning as an extension of the opposition. "Most media outlets operate like political parties. They do not just broadcast the opposition's messages, many times they fabricate them themselves," he claimed. At the same time, he attacked the opposition as a whole, stating that "in Israel there is no longer a real left," while accusing his political opponents of presenting themselves as right-wing but in practice adopting policies that, in his view, weaken the country's security. The statements by Benjamin Netanyahu take place during a period of intense internal political confrontation, as discussions continue regarding the course of the war in Gaza, the hostage negotiations, and the shaping of the post-war security architecture in the Middle East. With his public stances, the Israeli prime minister seeks to appear as the sole guarantor of Israel's national security, rejecting any proposal that, according to him, could lead to a retreat before Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran.

"With Trump we have a common goal – With or without an agreement, Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons"

Netanyahu stated that he and US President Donald Trump have a common strategy toward Iran, emphasizing however that, regardless of whether the Washington-Tehran talks result in an agreement or not, his government will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. In his interview with Fox News on Sunday, July 5, he argued that the two leaders pursue the same goal. "We want Iran to abandon its nuclear program. We want the enriched nuclear material removed and the enrichment facilities dismantled. We have other common goals," he stated.

The Israeli prime minister added that Donald Trump believes that, after the strikes that—according to him—Iran received from the United States and Israel, the conditions now exist so that through diplomacy and negotiations these goals can be achieved. "We respect this approach and I hope it succeeds. But I can tell you this: with an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons," he stressed. Netanyahu avoided commenting on the progress of the US-Iranian negotiations or the criticism he receives from his supporters, who consider that the framework of the agreement being shaped with Washington leaves the Iranian regime intact and allows it to reconstitute itself. "The negotiations are not completed. I will evaluate them when they are over," he stated, pointing out that differences between allies are discussed directly and without restrictions. At the same time, he confirmed that he is in close communication with Donald Trump and reminded that the two leaders are expected to meet soon in Washington.

Trump is the best friend Israel ever had in the White House

The Israeli prime minister also commented on the statements of US Vice President JD Vance, who had argued that Donald Trump is currently the only global leader who truly supports Israel. Netanyahu disagreed with this phrasing, although he characterized the American president as "the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House."

"We have a very good relationship with JD Vance, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he says. Donald Trump is the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House and I support that absolutely. But we also have other friends," he stated. As a characteristic example, he mentioned India, arguing that the country of 1.4 billion people largely supports Israel.

Attack on Vance - Many leaders seek cooperation with Israel

The prime minister of Israel further claimed that, despite growing international criticism of Israel and the rise of anti-Israeli and antisemitic—as he characterized them—trends in several countries, many foreign leaders still seek closer cooperation with Jerusalem. According to him, several heads of state communicate privately with him requesting cooperation in the fields of defense, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, even if they face political pressure within their own countries. "Many leaders tell me that they have a problem with public opinion, but they want to cooperate with us, to learn from our military capabilities, and to utilize Israel's expertise in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity," he claimed. In fact, he noted that Israel is, in his opinion, among the top countries worldwide in the field of cybersecurity.

There is no rift with Trump, but…

Responding to questions regarding reports of disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over Iran, Netanyahu dismissed the scenarios of a rift in his relations with Donald Trump. "Donald Trump does what he thinks is right for the United States. I do what I think is right for Israel. 99% of the time we agree. Like in any family or close friendship, there are moments when we have different views. We discuss them openly and usually find a common solution," he stated. Netanyahu's remarks come as diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran continue over Tehran's nuclear program, but also amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and increased tension in Lebanon, where Israel remains in confrontation with Hebollah.

i24NEWS: Military action against Iran remains on the table – Intensive consultations of officials with the US in Washington

The possibility of military action against Iran remains on the table, at a time when top Israeli officials are preparing for a series of meetings in Washington in the coming days and weeks, according to a report by i24NEWS, which cites a source with knowledge of the relevant processes. As the Israeli media outlet reports, the upcoming visits take place during a period of growing concern in Israel over the course of negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran's nuclear program, as information speaks of difficulties in the talks.

According to the same sources, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is expected to travel to Washington in about ten days, where he is scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Gideon Sa’ar's office confirmed that it has received an official invitation from the American side, clarifying however that the minister has not yet definitively confirmed his participation. At the same time, contacts are underway for a possible visit by Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz, while top officials from the Israeli Ministry of Defense are also expected to travel to Washington. Sources cited by i24NEWS describe these ongoing contacts as a peculiar "airlift" of diplomatic and military consultations between Israel and the United States, with Iran and developments in the Middle East as the main subject. The report further notes that the scheduled ministerial visits may be postponed or even canceled if a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump is finalized soon in Washington.

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