Israeli President Isaac Herzog has referred to President Donald Trump as “Israel’s number one friend,” downplaying any existing tensions between the two nations in light of the conflict with Iran, according to Politico.
“Firstly, we have many friends. I believe President Trump is our number one friend. We have a very good friendship with his administration and with him,” Herzog stated.
These comments align with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing efforts to emphasize his close relationship with Trump, despite differences regarding the ongoing war with Iran. Last week, during a speech at the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu remarked that Israel “has no more important partner than President Trump.”
However, behind these public declarations of friendship, signs of tension have emerged. Vice President JD Vance, who privately opposed the war with Iran, stated last month that Washington should not allow its foreign policy to be “subordinated to the state of Israel.” Trump had previously referred to Netanyahu as “crazy” during a phone conversation months ago.
The Trump administration also appeared unusually reserved in its response to Britain’s announcement of sanctions against Israeli settlements earlier this month. Herzog criticized these sanctions harshly in an interview with Global Reporters Network.
On Thursday, Herzog mentioned a conversation that took place the day before between Trump and Netanyahu, describing the American president’s comments about the attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai plane as “very encouraging and empowering.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Herzog also acknowledged that close relationships do not preclude differences. He emphasized Israel’s friendships with Germany and countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
“We can have disputes with many of our friends. That’s what democracy is all about,” Herzog concluded.
