'Bibi the puppet': Liberman blasts Trump's backing of Netanyahu
Liberman accuses Trump of treating Netanyahu as a puppet, rejects a minority government, and condemns racist remarks targeting Eisenkot.
Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman lambasted US President Donald Trump's alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, accusing Trump of orchestrating Israel through "Bibi the puppet" during an interview with 103FM. The criticism came after Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu's leadership on Sunday. Liberman further commented on the debate surrounding Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal's remarks about former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.
"I understand that President Trump finds it very convenient to run Israel through Bibi the puppet," Liberman stated, expressing his unease with the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. He emphasized that while Trump has done much for Israeli citizens, the decision-making power lies with the citizens themselves. Liberman stressed that Israel is an independent and sovereign nation and must behave as such.
He also questioned whether leaders of the bloc aiming to replace Netanyahu could effectively cooperate. Liberman's comments came amid a shift in the Israeli public's stance to the right following the October 7 attack, prompting a need for a coalition government that excludes draft dodgers. He refused to join a government reliant on parties unwilling to condemn Hamas, stating that he would not align with such a coalition.
Liberman accused Magal of being Netanyahu's "chief mouthpiece" and criticized the coalition for its racist undertones, citing offensive remarks made by Netanyahu's associates.
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