An Israeli writer has warned of the serious consequences stemming from the growing rift between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges, and US President Donald Trump.
Writing for the Hebrew outlet Zman Yisrael, Israeli columnist Bar Li Shahar argued that it has become increasingly clear that the alliance between “the defendant in Tel Aviv and the leader of the world’s most powerful superpower is falling apart”.
“Trump is still playing in the Champions League,” she wrote, “while Netanyahu has fallen to rock bottom.”
Israel’s Last Lifeline
Shahar noted that in recent days Trump has publicly questioned whether Netanyahu will even contest the next elections.
She argued that Netanyahu has inflicted unprecedented damage on Israel’s standing.
“He transformed a country that once possessed significant deterrence and the ability to pose a strategic threat into a weak state dependent on American protection and living under constant danger,” she wrote.
“Today, Israel’s only remaining lifeline is its public and its army, an army that is already showing signs of exhaustion and weakness.”
She pointed to remarks made by Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir during the war, when he reportedly raised “ten red flags” and warned that “the army could collapse from within”.
According to Shahar, the warning spread quickly and was heard not only by Israel’s enemies but also by countries that had stood by its side.
Allies Realised They Had Been Misled
The columnist argued that Israel’s allies took a long time to recognise, and even longer to admit, that they had been misled by a leader willing to do “literally anything” to save himself from trial and conviction.
Trump, who had long sought to showcase the strength of his relationship with Netanyahu, ultimately became the one exposing this reality.
After Washington provided Israel with weapons, technology and military capabilities that helped it during confrontations with Iran, Shahar wrote, Israel’s far right government found itself constrained by forces pushing for an end to the conflict while Netanyahu continued to pursue an endless war.
Trump Goes Public
Shahar claimed that Trump gradually, and then more openly, began revealing to the world what had been said behind closed doors.
She referenced reports of a heated confrontation between the two leaders, writing that Trump himself admitted shouting at Netanyahu:
“You’re crazy. Without me, you’d be in prison right now.”
She added that Trump had also warned:
“Many people now hate Netanyahu. It’s damaging Israel’s image, and Netanyahu’s actions in Lebanon could threaten the agreement currently being pursued with Iran.”
Shahar questioned how Netanyahu would now convince the Israeli public that his disagreements with Washington are merely policy differences while maintaining that his friendship with Trump remains intact.
She argued that many had ignored earlier warning signs and leaks, particularly after Trump concluded that Israeli intelligence assessments regarding Iran had been greatly exaggerated and that another war would not be enough to topple the Iranian government.
The Moment of Truth
According to Shahar, Trump’s frustration became visible as early as July 2025, when Israel launched attacks in Syria while growing reports of destruction in Gaza were generating increasing criticism in Washington.
At the time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump had been in direct contact with Netanyahu regarding those developments, including the bombing of a church in Gaza, which Shahar described as an early indication of cracks in the relationship.
She also pointed to an interview Trump gave to TIME magazine two years after the war in Gaza began.
According to the article, Trump told Netanyahu:
“The war in Gaza is over, Bibi. You can’t fight the whole world. You can fight isolated battles, but the entire world is now against you.”
The report stated that Netanyahu initially resisted this assessment, but Trump reminded him of everything he had done for Israel, including relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and facilitating the Abraham Accords.
Trump reportedly hinted that he would not be able to continue his support if Netanyahu rejected the proposed agreement.
Trump Won’t Let Netanyahu Derail the Deal
Shahar warned that many Israelis, preoccupied with daily pressures and concern for soldiers fighting on multiple fronts, are inclined to forget these realities.
But, she argued, the moment of truth has arrived.
Trump faces congressional elections in November, at a time when many Americans do not fully understand why the war with Iran began in the first place.
She estimated that Trump, who is seeking a settlement to end the confrontation with Iran, will not allow Netanyahu to sabotage the diplomatic track he is pursuing.
This, she argued, explains reports that Trump personally called Netanyahu after Iranian missile launches and instructed him not to retaliate militarily and instead contain the situation.
Shahar added that Netanyahu’s overriding concern remains escaping the consequences of his corruption trials, creating a dangerous and unpredictable dynamic.
This tension, she argued, has already become evident through the suspension of a military operation that was reportedly close to launch, as well as through negotiations with Iran that have progressed without meaningful Israeli involvement.
Growing Distance Between Washington and Netanyahu
The columnist also cited remarks by US Vice President JD Vance, who said:
“It is possible to reach a long term agreement with Iran. Israel may not like it, but it serves America’s interests.”
For Shahar, this reflected the deteriorating relationship between Washington and Netanyahu, who appears determined to continue a war that, according to Israeli experts, has failed to achieve its objectives.
She also referred to another statement attributed to Trump in which he told Netanyahu:
“All operations must stop immediately, including in Lebanon.”
Shahar questioned whether this amounted to an American warning similar to past threats to suspend weapons deliveries.
Could Washington really adopt such a position while a large Jewish community closely watches developments and elections draw near?
And could criticism from sections of the Jewish community towards Israeli policies have a meaningful political impact?
A Storm With No Lifeboat
Shahar concluded by warning that Israel has long assumed its reliance on the United States was virtually guaranteed.
This time, however, the situation is tied to Netanyahu’s corruption trials, which could carry severe personal consequences for him and make his future behaviour increasingly unpredictable.
She ended her article with a stark assessment:
“Netanyahu and Trump are no longer political partners as they once were.
They are no longer in the same bed.
Not in the same room.
Not in the same house.
Not even in the same boat.”
The remaining question, she wrote, is whether the Israeli public will find itself caught in the middle of this perfect storm with no life jacket.
