According to the Jerusalam post, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman launched a sharp attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, accusing him of compromising Israel’s national security in pursuit of personal political and legal gains tied to US President Donald Trump.
Speaking during an interview with Israeli radio station 103FM, Liberman claimed Netanyahu’s recent conduct reflected a hidden arrangement with Trump aimed at easing the prime minister’s mounting legal and diplomatic troubles. According to the former defense minister, Netanyahu was more focused on ending his ongoing criminal trial and neutralizing international legal pressure than on safeguarding Israel’s strategic interests.
Liberman alleged that the Israeli government had effectively subordinated national decision-making to political understandings with Washington, warning that such behavior weakened Israel’s independence and credibility on the world stage.
“How did we reach a situation where we became a banana republic?” Liberman said during the interview. “One day we can suddenly receive a message from President Trump announcing a ceasefire. There is a real arrangement between Netanyahu and Trump. Everything that interests Netanyahu is canceling the trial and the international arrest warrant.”
The outspoken opposition leader further argued that Israel’s security policy was being dictated by Netanyahu’s personal survival rather than broader national considerations. He accused the prime minister of placing his legal battles ahead of the interests of the Israeli public and the country’s defense establishment.
Netanyahu is currently facing an ongoing corruption trial in Israel involving allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, charges he has repeatedly denied. At the same time, international scrutiny over Israel’s conduct in the war against Hamas has intensified, increasing political pressure on his government both domestically and abroad.
Liberman, a longtime rival of Netanyahu who previously served as both defense minister and foreign minister, has become one of the prime minister’s fiercest critics in recent years. He has frequently accused Netanyahu of weakening state institutions and placing coalition politics above national priorities.
During the interview, Liberman also reiterated his opposition to any future political alliance with Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties. He ruled out joining or supporting a coalition that included factions he accused of exploiting the political system while avoiding broader national responsibilities, particularly military service.
The Yisrael Beiteinu leader has consistently advocated for mandatory military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jewish citizens, an issue that has caused repeated tensions within Israeli politics and coalition negotiations.
Liberman’s comments come amid continuing political divisions in Israel over the government’s handling of the war in Gaza, ceasefire negotiations, and relations with the United States. Critics of Netanyahu have accused him of prolonging political crises to maintain power, while supporters argue he remains the most experienced figure capable of managing Israel’s security challenges during a volatile period.
Neither Netanyahu’s office nor representatives of the Trump camp immediately responded publicly to Liberman’s accusations on Sunday.
The remarks are expected to further deepen political tensions within Israel as debates continue over the country’s wartime leadership, judicial controversies, and future coalition alignments…….See More
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